DC-biased AC-electrokinetic flow and applications in microfluidics

Abstract

After rigorous development over the past decade, AC-electrokinetics (ACEK) has been established as an effective method to manipulate fluid flow in an electrolyte-based microfluidic system. ACEK is a promising technology for Lab-on-a-Chip (LOC) or Micro-Total-Analysis-System (uTAS) for transporting and mixing of fluids. This technology is based on the interaction of the electric field with the electrical charge density (i.e. inhomogeneous distribution of ions) within a fluid which imposes a Coulomb force on the ionic species and fluid flow is generated through viscous drag.