title: Charging of heated colloidal particles using the electrolyte Seebeck effect.
abstract: We propose a novel actuation mechanism for colloids, which is based on the Seebeck effect of the electrolyte solution: Laser heating of a nonionic particle accumulates in its vicinity a net charge Q, which is proportional to the excess temperature at the particle surface. The corresponding long-range thermoelectric field E is proportional to 1/r(2) provides a tool for controlled interactions with nearby beads or with additional molecular solutes. An external field E(ext) drags the thermocharged particle at a velocity that depends on its size and absorption properties; the latter point could be particularly relevant for separating carbon nanotubes according to their electronic band structure.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire Ondes et Matière d'Aquitaine, Université de Bordeaux & CNRS, Talence, France.
authors.forename: Arghya
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majee
authors.forename: Alois
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Würger
mesh_terms: D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry*; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D006361:Heating; D007834:Lasers; D008956:Models, Chemical; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D012996:Solutions / Q000737:chemistry; D013816:Thermodynamics
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D004573:Electrolytes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D012996:Solutions