Driven colloidal suspensions in confinement and density functional theory: Microstructure and wall-slip

We theoretically investigate general properties of driven (sheared) colloidal suspensions in confinement, based on methods of classical density functional theory. In the absence of an exact closed (Smoluchowski-) equation for the one-particle density under shear, we formulate a set of general conditions for approximations, and show that a simple closure fulfills them. The exact microscopic stress tensor is identified. Exemplifying the situation near a wall (oriented parallel to the direction of shear), we note that the microscopic shear stress is not necessarily homogeneous. Formulating a second equation additional to the Smoluchowski equation, we achieve a homogeneous shear stress, and thereby compute the local flow velocity near the wall. This finally leads to a slip length of the complex fluid at the wall. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.