3-Dimensional electrokinetic tweezing for micro and nano assembly

We show how to extend electrokinetic tweezing, which can manipulate any visible particles and has more favorable force scaling than optical actuation (enabling manipulation of nanoscale objects to nanoscopic precision) from 2-dimensional control to the third dimension (3D). A novel and practical device is presented that can create both planar and vertical flows and electric field modes. Feedback control algorithms are extended and demonstrated in realistic simulations to show 3D manipulation of particles. The design and control results presented here are the essential next step to go from current 2D manipulation capabilities to an experimental demonstration of nanoprecision 3D electrokinetic tweezing in a microfluidic system. Doing so requires integration with vision-based nano-precise 3D particle imaging, a capability that has been shown in the literature and which we are now combining with the 3D actuation and control methods demonstrated here.