Patent ID: 8444836

Claim:
A method for forming at least one circulating flow or vortex in a drop of liquid, or at its surface, in a surrounding medium, having relatively to each other different dielectric properties and/or different resistivities, comprising: positioning the drop on a device including at least two first electrodes having edges facing each other, so that a projection of a contact line of the drop on a plane containing the at least two first electrodes has a tangent forming with these electrode edges an angle between 0° and 90°; and applying an electric potential difference between the at least two first electrodes which gives rise to an oblique electric field relative to an interface between the drop of liquid and the surrounding medium, a tangential component of the oblique electric field allowing electric charges to generate a momentum tangential to the interface and form the at least one circulating flow or vortex in the drop of liquid, and a normal electric field relative to the interface to keep in static position and a stable way the contact line of the drop of liquid during the method.