Trapping in AC octode field cages

Abstract Three-dimensional micro-electrode systems, fabricated by IC technology, were used for the trapping and aggregation of suspended microscopic dielectric particles. To achieve negative dielectrophoresis (repelling forces) in aqueous solution, phase-shifted RF electric fields were applied to the micro-electrodes. Reliable dielectrophoretic trapping in a liquid stream usually requires dipole forces (lowest order contribution). Due to symmetry, AC (two-phase) field cages are not closed in dipole approximation. We introduce a new AC drive of octode cages that allows efficient trapping against streaming at much lower expense than rotating (four-phase) electrode excitation. This is confirmed analytically, numerically and by experiments using latex beads.

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