Tunable particle focusing in a straight channel with symmetric semicircle obstacle arrays using electrophoresis-modified inertial effects

Authors

Dan Yuan, University of WollongongFollow
Chao Pan, University of WollongongFollow
Jun Zhang, University of WollongongFollow
Sheng Yan, University of WollongongFollow
Qianbin Zhao, University of WollongongFollow
Gursel Alici, University of WollongongFollow
Weihua Li, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

110647

Publication Details

Yuan, D., Pan, C., Zhang, J., Yan, S., Zhao, Q., Alici, G. & Li, W. (2016). Tunable particle focusing in a straight channel with symmetric semicircle obstacle arrays using electrophoresis-modified inertial effects. Micromachines, 7 (11), 195-1-195-11.

Abstract

In this work, a novel microfluidic platform for tunable particle focusing in a straight channel with symmetric semicircle obstacle arrays using electrophoresis (EP)-modified inertial effects was presented. By exerting an EP force on the charged microparticles, a relative velocity gap between microspheres and fluid in a straight channel with symmetric semicircle obstacle arrays was implemented. The relative velocity and fluid shear will induce shear-slip lift force (Saffman lift force) perpendicular to the mainstream direction. Therefore, the focusing pattern can be altered using the electrophoresis-induced Saffman force. The effects of electric field direction, flow rate, electric field magnitude, and particle size were also studied. This demonstrates the possibility of adjusting the particle inertial focusing pattern in a straight channel with with symmetric semicircle obstacle arrays using electrophoresis. Manipulation of the lateral migration of focusing streaks increases controllability in applications such as blood cell filtration and the separation of cells by size.