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Published on: February 4, 2011
Electrokinetic concentration, patterning, and sorting of colloids with thin film heaters
Vanessa Velasco1, Stuart J Williams
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40292, USA.
Abstract:
Reliable and simple techniques for rapid assembly and patterning of colloid architectures advance the discovery and implementation of such nanomaterials. This work demonstrates rapid electrokinetic two-dimensional assembly of colloidal structures guided by the geometry of thin film heaters within a parallel-plate device. This system is designed to enable either independently addressable or massively parallel colloidal assembly. A combination of electrothermal hydrodynamics, particle-electrode, and particle-particle electrokinetic interactions governs their assembly. Concentration and patterning of structures are shown with 1.0 μm polystyrene particles and sorting between 1.0 μm and 2.0 μm particles is demonstrated.
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