The Effect of an Applied Electric Field on Filament Stiffness

Mark Arsenault, Hui Zhao, Haim Bau, and Yale Goldman

The average, measured (symbols) and predicted (solid line) normalized root-mean-square displacement and the filament’s estimated tension (inset) as functions of the square of the electric field’s intensity

The time-independent, electric field-induced flow field around the filament.

Observation:

The filament’s stiffness increases as the applied electric field’s intensity increases.

Hypothesis:

The electric field-induced tension is caused by electro-convection in the electric double layer enveloping the filament.

Objective:

Deduce the properties of the filament-solvent interface