A New Approach to Simulating Colloidal Suspensions Driven by AC Electric Fields

I will present a numerical method to simulate the motion of micron-scale particles suspended in ionic solvents under AC electric fields. While electrohydrodynamic flows near electrode surfaces are widely proposed as the driving mechanism for this movement, definitive characterization requires numerical simulation. This approach couples time-averaged electrostatics and Debye layer surface velocities using the Method of Fundamental Solutions paired with the rigid multiblob method. I will expand on a diverse set of experimental applications by not only reproducing particle dynamics, but also providing insight into the fundamental physics driving these systems. Specifically, I will discuss the electrohydrodynamics of spherical particle suspensions, the frequency-dependent motion of asymmetric dumbbell-like particles, and the dynamics of phase-separated lipid vesicles.