Thermophoretic Transport of Aerosol Particles

Thermophoretic transport refers to the directed movement of aerosol particles along a temperature gradient in a carrier gas. At its core, this phenomenon arises from the unbalanced momentum transfer of gas molecules striking the warmer and cooler sides of the particles, creating a net force that propels them towards lower temperatures. This process operates alongside other forces—most notably Brownian motion, aerodynamic drag and gravity—resulting in complex particle trajectories. Thermophoresis plays a crucial role in atmospheric science, influencing processes such as cloud formation and pollutant dispersion, as well as in technological applications ranging from aerosol sampling and particle deposition in microelectronic fabrication to targeted drug delivery in respiratory therapies. Recent advances in theoretical modelling and high-resolution experiments have deepened our understanding of the interplay between thermophoretic forces and particle properties, including size, material composition and surface morphology. Dimensionless parameters, such as the Knudsen number, characterise the flow regime and inform the design of devices that exploit thermophoretic effects, enabling precise control of nanoparticle separation and deposition. The global significance of thermophoretic transport lies in its contribution to air-quality management, energy-efficient filtration systems and the emerging field of aerosol-based manufacturing, where tailored temperature fields can drive selective assembly of nanostructures.

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Thermophoretic Transport of Aerosol Particles publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in thermophoretic transport of aerosol particles across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Thermophoresis: The movement of particles induced by a temperature gradient in a fluid.

Aerosol particle: A solid or liquid particle suspended in a gas phase, typically ranging from nanometre to micrometre scales.

Brownian motion: Random motion of particles resulting from collisions with surrounding gas molecules.

Temperature gradient: A spatial variation in temperature that drives thermally induced transport processes.

References

1. Thermophoresis and Brownian Motion Effects on Nanoparticle Deposition Inside a 90° Square Bend Tube. Aerosol and Air Quality Research (2018).
2. THE THEORY OF THERMOPHORESIS FOR DOUBLETS OF LARGE SOLID SPHERICAL MULTILAYER AEROSOL PARTICLES FOR ANY ORIENTATION OF DOUBLETS. Bulletin of the Moscow State Regional University (Physics and mathematics) (2016).
3. Development for Thermophoresis Experimental Under Microgravity Condition. IOP Conference Series Materials Science and Engineering (2016).