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Dufour effect

The Dufour effect is the energy flux due to a mass concentration gradient occurring as a coupled effect of irreversible processes. The effect is named after Louis Dufour, who studied it in 1872. It is the reciprocal phenomenon to the Soret effect. The concentration gradient results in a temperature change. For binary liquid mixtures, the Dufour effect is usually considered negligible, whereas in binary gas mixtures the effect can be significant.

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Jun 18, 2026
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The Dufour effect is the energy flux due to a mass concentration gradient occurring as a coupled effect of irreversible processes. The effect is named after Louis Dufour, who studied it in 1872.1 It is the reciprocal phenomenon to the Soret effect.2 The concentration gradient results in a temperature change. For binary liquid mixtures, the Dufour effect is usually considered negligible, whereas in binary gas mixtures the effect can be significant.3

References

References

  1. Dufour, L. (1872). The Diffusion Thermoeffect. Archives des Sciences Physiques et Naturelles, 45, 9-12.
  2. Mortimer, R. G.; Eyring, H. (1980). "Elementary transition state theory of the Soret and Dufour effects". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 77 (4): 1728–1731. Bibcode:1980PNAS...77.1728M. doi:10.1073/pnas.77.4.1728. PMC 348577. PMID 16592791.
  3. Hollinger, St.; Lücke, M. (1995). "Influence of the Dufour effect on convection in binary gas mixtures". Physical Review E. 52 (1): 642–657. arXiv:patt-sol/9505002. Bibcode:1995PhRvE..52..642H. doi:10.1103/PhysRevE.52.642. PMID 9963466.