Experimental study of electrokinetic transport of microparticles in a confined microfluidic chamber

Abstract

Electrophoretic displays, also known as EPD, are main examples of the E-papers category because of their paper-like appearance and low power consumptions. The information displayed in EPD is a result of the migration of charged pigment particles in a fluid containing an optically contrasting dye under the influence of low electric voltage. This process is known as Electrophoresis.

Together with electroosmosis and dielectrophoresis, they are different mechanisms of particles transportation that are classified under electrokinetic (EK) transportation. These methods are the key processes that affect the behaviour of particles within an enclosed chamber such as the electronic paper.

In addition, the presence of the chamber boundaries and particles fluid plays an important part in affecting the movement of the particles due to the interaction between them. Also, the application of electrical voltage produces electroosmosis flow which induces vortexes within the chamber. As a result, this project aims at helping the understanding of the effect of such vortexes on the particles velocities, by means of experimental methods.