Flow-induced transverse electrical potential across an assembly of gold nanoparticles

We report the generation of a potential difference, of the order of tens of millivolts, induced by the flow of polar liquids over an assembly of gold nanoparticles. The device consisted of two conducting glass plates, one of which contained the gold nanoparticle multilayer assembly. The potential generated is in transverse direction to the flow and is dependent on the nature of the flowing liquid. We propose a simple theoretical model to account qualitatively for the generation of the flow-induced transverse potential. © 2005 The American Physical Society.