Simulation of particle levitation due to dielectrophoresis

Abstract

The aim of the research is to model accurately dielectrophoresis using different numerical tools and compare them to experimental results. The dielectrophoresis phenomenon consists in the creation of electrostatic forces on nano or micro particles due to a gradient of electric field. The aim of such a setup is to control the motion of micro or nano particles for MEMS applications, for instance, for bioanalysis devices. To validate the numerical results, some prototypes have been fabricated at TU Delft. Using these simulations, a design of microstructure has been chosen to levitate Silica micro-particles. Experimental measurements have been performed and some characteristic behaviours of particle depending on the amplitude and the frequency of the applied voltage have been identified. The measurements are compared to the numerical simulation.