Abstract
A review is given on theories of electrokinetic phenomena in a suspension of charged colloidal particles (e.g., electrophoresis of colloidal particles in an applied electric field). A special emphasis is put on the electrophoresis theories of Smoluchowski, Hückel, Henry, and Overbeek. The roles of the particle zeta potential and the electrical double layer formed around a charged particle, the electrophoretic retardation effect, the difference between Smoluchowski’s and Hückel’s theories, and the relaxation effect are extensively discussed. Historical arguments relating to the appearance of a maximum of the electrophoretic mobility plotted as a function of the particle zeta potential are addressed. Finally, the history and present activities of the International Symposium of Electrokinetic Phenomena (ELKIN) starting in 1993 as well as the topics present in the recent symposia are reviewed.
