Electrokinetic cell powered by osmotic gradients: an analytic survey for asymmetric wall potentials and hydrophobic surfaces

Abstract Nowadays, the fabrication of microelectromechanical systems has given rise to several studies whose main purpose is obtain greater benefit micro-nano scales, putting special interest in improvement design such devices. One applications harvesting energy due electrokinetic phenomena, more specifically, streaming potential. Nonetheless, there a lack theoretical encompassing coupled asymmetries both slip conditions and electric potentials (these being associated with chemical physical characteristics surfaces). By virtue previous explanation, ideal assumptions based on symmetry some variables must be reconsidered, especially when manufacturing symmetric flat surfaces tiny scale quite difficult achieve. This work presents study power generation, exploiting produced by an asymmetric membrane which turn prompts flux inside microchannel made two parallel surfaces. The driving force this battery osmotic gradient sides membrane. model uses Debye–Hückel approximation together appropriate boundary for slips interest, as dimensionless horizontal velocity component, pressure field, average potential, were estimated.