Issue 5, 2014

Electrostatic potential wells for on-demand drop manipulation in microchannels

Abstract

Precise control and manipulation of individual drops are crucial in many lab-on-a-chip applications. We present a novel hybrid concept for channel-based discrete microfluidics with integrated electrowetting functionality by incorporating co-planar electrodes (separated by a narrow gap) in one of the microchannel walls. By combining the high throughput of channel-based microfluidics with the individual drop control achieved using electrical actuation, we acquire the strengths of both worlds. The tunable strength of the electrostatic forces enables a wide range of drop manipulations, such as on-demand trapping and release, guiding, and sorting of drops in the microchannel. In each of these scenarios, the retaining electrostatic force competes with the hydrodynamic drag force. The conditions for trapping can be predicted using a simple model that balances these forces.

Graphical abstract: Electrostatic potential wells for on-demand drop manipulation in microchannels

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Oct 2013
Accepted
25 Nov 2013
First published
25 Nov 2013

Lab Chip, 2014,14, 883-891

Electrostatic potential wells for on-demand drop manipulation in microchannels

R. de Ruiter, A. M. Pit, V. M. de Oliveira, M. H. G. Duits, D. van den Ende and F. Mugele, Lab Chip, 2014, 14, 883 DOI: 10.1039/C3LC51121A

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements