Thermodiffusion: The physico-chemical mechanics view

Thermodiffusion in liquids (the Soret effect) has several unusual properties. In particular, transport can occur with or against a temperature gradient depending on the case. Numerous empirical correlations have been proposed with mixed success or range of applicability. Here, we show that physicochemical mechanics, derived from the Smoluchowski equation as a description of diffusive transport phenomena, is in accord with the experimental and simulated thermodiffusion data from colloidal beads and biomacromolecules to ionic solutions and ultracold fluid mixtures. It yields a simple formula for the Soret coefficient S_T based on the reference molar entropy including non-ideality. Hydrodynamic and local non-equilibrium effects are discussed but not included as these are apparently not a major contribution for the wide range of solutes under the near-equilibrium experimental conditions considered here.