Thermophoresis in colloidal suspensions

Thermophoresis is particle motion induced by thermal gradients. Akin to other driven transport processes, such as the Soret effect in simple fluid mixtures, or electrophoresis and diffusiophoresis in colloidal suspensions, it is, both experimentally and theoretically, a challenging subject. Rather than being a comprehensive recollection, this review aims to be a critical re-examination of the experimental and theoretical tools used to investigate thermophoresis, and of some recent relevant results that may unravel novel aspects of colloid solvation forces. The perspectives of thermophoresis as a tool for particle manipulation in microfluidics are also emphasized.