Numerical calculation of dielectrophoretic and electrostatic forces acting on micro-scale particles

Abstract

Much of the current literature on dielectrophoresis (DEP) relates to micro or nano scale particles; typically in micro-fluidic type experiment geometries. In contrast, this work focusses on the application of DEP forces to larger, micro-scale particles in air. Since DEP scales with particle volume, it can apply a significant force on surprisingly large objects. When using very small particles it is often sufficient to use Pohl’s method [1] whereby the particle is considered to be spherical and where it does not interact with the externally applied electric field. For the larger particles used in this work, the spherical approximation does not necessarily hold. DEP forces are therefore calculated using the finite element method (FEM) which permits the use of arbitrary particle shapes. In this model the electric field is solved in the presence of a polarizable particle, the DEP force is then calculated using the Maxwell stress tensor method [2]. The development of this model allows the investigation of the DEP forces acting on non-spherical particles for a specific experimental electrode geometry.
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Identifiers

ORCID for M Praeger: orcid.org/0000-0002-5814-6155

ORCID for P Lewin: orcid.org/0000-0002-3299-2556

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