Diffusiophoretic transport of colloids in 2D porous media

Understanding, predicting and controlling the transport of colloids in porous media is important in many applications, from contaminant remediation in subsurface flows to drug delivery to cancer cells. Chemical gradients and flows are often the common feature of these environments. Chemical gradients lead to diffusiophoretic migration of colloids. Yet, how the interplay between chemical gradients and flows in porous media governs the transport of colloids is not known. In this work, we combine numerical simulations and theoretical modeling with experimental observations to show how chemical gradients at the scale of pores (micron-scale) influences the macroscopic transport and dispersion of colloids.