Patent ID: 8801911
Filing Date: 2014-08-12
Classification: B01L,B82Y

Abstract:
1. A method of manipulating particles, the method comprising: providing a device for manipulating particles in an electrolyte solution, the device comprising: a channel for accommodating an electrolyte solution including particles to be manipulated; an anode and cathode for imposing a direct current (DC) electric field on the channel; a floating electrode attached to an inner wall of the channel and resulting in induced-charge electroosmosis near a surface of the channel; a DC power supply unit for supplying a DC voltage to the anode and the cathode; two control electrodes respectively disposed on sides of the floating electrode and capable of independently tuning induced-charge electroosmosis engendered by the floating electrode regardless of a global electric field across the channel by locally controlling the DC voltage applied to the anode and cathode; and a local control DC power supply unit for supplying a DC voltage to the two control electrodes, providing the electrolyte solution including the particles into the channel; imposing an electric field on the channel by applying a DC voltage to the anode and the cathode; and manipulating the particles in the electrolyte solution by locally controlling a magnitude and polarity of the DC voltage applied to the two control electrodes.