The electrohydrodynamic behavior of stretchable interdigitated micropumps under transient operating conditions remains poorly understood. This study presents the first high-fidelity lattice Boltzmann simulation of a negatively charge-injected stretchable micropump with realistic geometry. The model accurately reproduced experimental hydrostatic pressure and hydrodynamic flow rates, while resolving previously inaccessible microsecond-scale dynamics. Key findings revealed that the micropump exhibited strong sub-millisecond flow reversals during startup under free-flow conditions, with oscillation amplitudes significantly exceeding steady-state values. These transients can be effectively suppressed by pre-establishing charge distribution before valve actuation. Furthermore, we have identified and explained the “charge-filtered effect” responsible for the emergence and upstream migration of charge voids, which governs vortex restructuring and leads to complex multi-vortex flow patterns. This work provides a validated computational framework for designing soft electrohydrodynamic devices in applications ranging from flexible robotics to implantable medical systems.
TANG et al. (Thu,) studied this question.