Diffusiophoretic Movements of Polystyrene Particles in a H-Shaped Channel for Inorganic Salts, Carboxylic Acids, and Organic Salts

Diffusiophoresis is the movement of particles as a result of a concentration gradient, where the particles can move toward higher concentrations. The magnitude of the movement is largest for the electrolyte solute and depends upon the relative concentration gradient, surface potential, and diffusivity contrast between the cation and anion. Here, diffusiophoresis of ordinary polystyrene particles is studied in a H-shaped channel for different solutes. The experimental results are compared to a numerical model, which is solely based on the concentration gradient, surface potential, and diffusivity contrast. The surface potential of the particles was measured to use as input for the numerical model. The diffusiophoretic movement of the experiments aligns well with the theoretical predicted movement for the inorganic (lithium chloride and sodium bicarbonate) and organic (lithium formate, sodium formate, and potassium formate) salts measured. However, for the carboxylic acids (formic, acetic, and oxalic acids) measured, the theoretical model and experiment do not align because they are weak acids and only partially dissociate, creating a driving force for diffusiophoresis. Overall, the H-shaped channel can be used in the future as a platform to measure diffusiophoretic movement for more complex systems, for example, with mixtures and asymmetric valence electrolytes.