Micropump based on electroosmosis of the second kind.

A microfluidic pump based on electroosmosis of the second kind was designed and fabricated. Experimental results using DC and AC voltages showed a close to second-order relationship between flow and voltage, in good agreement with theory. The experimental flow rates were considerably lower than the predicted maximum for the micropumps, which can be attributed to the hydrodynamic resistance of the channel network. This also indicates that higher flow velocities are obtainable for modified pump designs.