Electrokinetics over hydrophobic surfaces

Abstract

Segregation of phases in the vicinity of hydrophobic surfaces may turn out to be immensely consequential towards altering the coupling of electrostatics and hydrodynamics over interfacial scales. Here, we review the fundamental advances towards bringing out the various facets of electrokinetic transport over hydrophobic interfaces. We lay significant emphasis on the developments in understanding the slippery electrohydrodynamics over such interfaces, by appealing to the considerations across various spatio-temporal scales as unveiled by molecular dynamics as well as mesoscopic modelling paradigms (such as phase field and lattice Boltzmann). We envisage that despite significant advancements being achieved towards relating the macroscopic slip-length with the underlying molecular or mesoscopic phenomena, future efforts could be directed towards developing more robust statistically based models that may connect rarefied gas dynamics in the segregated phase with bulk electrokinetic transport and possible giant augmentations in the consequent fluid flow