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Updated: Feb 2, 2026

AC Electrokinetic Phenomena Generated by Microelectrode Structures
Published on: July 28, 2008
A High-Throughput Electrokinetic Micromixer via AC Field-Effect Nonlinear Electroosmosis Control in 3D Electrode
Kai Du1, Weiyu Liu2, Yukun Ren3
1School of Electronics and Control Engineering, and School of Highway, Chang'an University, Middle-Section of Nan'er Huan Road, Xi'an 710064, China. dukai@chd.edu.cn.
Abstract:
In this study, we make use of the AC field-effect flow control on induced-charge electroosmosis (ICEO), to develop an electrokinetic micromixer with 3D electrode layouts, greatly enhancing the device performance compared to its 2D counterpart of coplanar metal strips. A biased AC voltage wave applied to the central gate terminal, i.e., AC field-effect control, endows flow field-effect-transistor of ICEO the capability to produce arbitrary symmetry breaking in the transverse electrokinetic vortex flow pattern, which makes it fascinating for microfluidic mixing. Using the Debye-Huckel approximation, a mathematical model is established to test the feasibility of the new device design in stirring nanoparticle samples carried by co-flowing laminar streams. The effect of various experimental parameters on constructing a viable micromixer is investigated, and an integrated microdevice with a series of gate electrode bars disposed along the centerline of the channel bottom surface is proposed for realizing high-flux mixing. Our physical demonstration on field-effect nonlinear electroosmosis control in 3D electrode configurations provides useful guidelines for electroconvective manipulation of nanoscale objects in modern microfluidic systems.
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