Two-dimensional numerical simulation of microscale thermoelectrokinetic instability

Abstract

Two-dimensional direct numerical simulation of thermoelectrokinetic instability in electrolyte bounded by semiselective surfaces was conducted for the first time. The results of numerical experiments show that the convective motion in the electrolyte takes place due to the stability loss of one-dimensional steady state solution. This motion manifested itself in two-dimensional structures similar to electroconvective rolls. What fundamentally differs is formation of thin lines connecting the membranes, where the salt concentration reaches its maximum value. Electric current in the system, obviously, will firstly flow through these lines.