AC electro-osmosis in nanochannels

AC Electro-osmosis (AC-EO) is the movement of liquid induced by the application of alternating current potential waves to wall-integrated electrodes. In symmetric systems (both spatial and temporal) the resulting liquid flow is alternating in direction with a zero offset. To obtain directionality asymmetry is added either in space (by electrode geometry) or in time (by applying asymmetric AC signals). This thesis is written as part of the Nanoned PhD project: 'Flow sensing and control in nanochannels'. This project was set out to explore new ways of generating and monitoring flow in nanochannels. In this thesis design, fabrication, experiments and modeling of a system employing AC-EO in a 50 nm high slit-like nanochannel are described. Asymmetry in this device was obtained by an asymmetry in electrode size.