Analytical solutions of the dielectrophoretic and travelling wave forces generated by interdigitated electrode arrays

Abstract

In AC electrokinetics, the application of an AC electric field to a suspension of particles results in the manipulation and separation of the particles also the movement of the fluid. One application is dielectrophoresis (DEP). The second effect is travelling wave dielectrophoresis (twDEP). This paper presents the analytical solutions of the dielectrophoretic and travelling wave forces for the interdigitated electrode arrays energised with either a two- or four-phase signal, respectively. The torque that rotates the particle in the four-phase travelling wave arrays is also analytically solved. © 2008 IOP Publishing Ltd.