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Continuous separation of microparticles by size with Direct current‐dielectrophoresis
Author(s) -
Kang Kwan Hyoung,
Kang Yuejun,
Xuan Xiangchun,
Li Dongqing
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
electrophoresis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.666
H-Index - 158
eISSN - 1522-2683
pISSN - 0173-0835
DOI - 10.1002/elps.200500558
Subject(s) - dielectrophoresis , electrokinetic phenomena , electric field , microchannel , polydimethylsiloxane , materials science , particle (ecology) , direct current , mechanics , microfluidics , particle size , voltage , current (fluid) , electrode , dielectric , polystyrene , nanotechnology , composite material , optoelectronics , physics , chemistry , polymer , thermodynamics , oceanography , quantum mechanics , geology
Direct current‐dielectrophoresis (DC‐DEP), the induced motion of the dielectric particles in a spatially nonuniform DC electric field, is demonstrated to be a highly efficient method to separate the microparticles by size. The locally nonuniform electric field is generated by an insulating block fabricated inside a polydimethylsiloxane microchannel. The particle experiences a negative DEP (accordingly a repulsive force) at the corners of the block, where the local electric‐field strength is the strongest. Thus, the particle deviates from the streamline and the degree of deviation is dependent on the DEP force ( i.e. , the particle size). Combined with the electrokinetic flow, mixed polystyrene particles of a few micrometers difference in diameter can be continuously separated into distinct reservoirs. For separating target particles of a specific size, it is required to simply adjust the voltage outputs of the electrodes. A numerical model based on the Lagrangian tracking method is developed to simulate the particle motion and the results showed a reasonable agreement with the experimental data.