Thermophoresis or When Small Objects Meet Temperature Gradient: Numerous Applications

Abstract

This mini review discusses the phenomenon of thermophoresis, also known as the thermophoretic effect. Thermophoretic effect arises from the combination of a temperature gradient and particles of very small dimensions, on the order of magnitude of the mean free path of the molecules of the surrounding gas. Despite being a little-known effect, it is critical to many physical and chemical processes and for characterising the properties of nanostructured materials that could be used in industry for sensing applications. A description and definition of otherwise very similar thermophoresis terms is provided, as well as a brief overview of the literature on this topic, with a focus on research in the twenty-first century.

Keywords

• thermophoresis
• photophoresis
• thermomechanical effects
• thermophoretic force
• temperature gradient