AC Electrokinetics: Dielectrophoresis (DEP)

A dielectric particle placed in an electric field becomes electrically

polarized as a result of partial charge separation, which leads to
an induced dipole moment. The dipole moment is a consequence
of the generation of equal and opposite charges at the boundary of
the particle.
The induced surface charge is only about 0.1% of the net surface
charge normally carried by biological cells and microorganisms
and is generated within about a microsecond.

Dielectrophoresis (DEP)

In a nonuniform electric field, the particle experience a net dielectrophoretic force. The magnitude of the induced dipole depends on the
polarizability of the particle with respect to that of the medium.
If a suspended particle has polarizability higher than the medium, the
DEP force will push the particle toward regions of higher electric field
(positive DEP). If the medium has a higher polarizability than the
suspended particle, the particle is driven toward regions of low field
strength (negative DEP).

What if the bias voltage is reversed?

Dielectrophoretic force acting on particles

in planar electrode gap
FDEP
0.1-2x104 Hz

Grounded

&
FDEP

2
2 S H1 Re K ( w) R 3 Erms

The Clausius Mossotti function K may have complex frequency behavior

Re K

H 2  H1
3 H 1 V 2  H 2 V 1 

2
H 2  2H1 W MW V 2  2V 1 2 1  w2 W MW

E0

E 0

K>0

K<0

W MW

H 2  H1
V 2  2V 1

Maxwell-Wagner
charge relaxation
time

Positive dielectrophoresis: K > 0.

Particles are attracted to electric
field intensity maxima.
Negative dielectrophoresis: K < 0.
Particles are repelled.

Phenomenology of FDEP
&
FDEP 2 S H 0 H 1 K R 3 E 2

H 2  H1
H 2  2H 1

Clausius-Mossotti function

i FDEP depends upon the magnitude and sign of the Clausius Mossotti function:
Positive dielectrophoresis: K > 0 (or H2 > H1). Particles are attracted to electric field
intensity maxima.
Negative dielectrophoresis: K < 0 (or H2 < H1). Particles are attracted to electric field
intensity minima and repelled from maxima.

E0

K<0

K>0

i FDEP is proportional to particle volume.

i FDEP is proportional to the dielectric
permittivity of the medium, H2.
i The DEP force vector is directed along the
electric field gradient, which, in general, is not
parallel to the electric field vector

Advantages of using alternating (AC) field

Gas

FEL

FDEP

+
+

h Avoid electrophoresis and electroosmosis

h Avoid electrolysis
h Works with any particles
h Use the frequency dependence of FDEP

A couple of important electrode geometries (K > 0)

Example:
Dielectrophoretic behavior of latex microspheres
Low dielectric permittivity H2
Increased conductivity V2 (counterion atmosphere)

V 2 V1
V  2V ! 0 for w W MW  1
1
2
Re K o
H 2  H1
H  2H  0 for w W MW !! 1
2
1

DC conduction governs low-frequency DEP attraction

Dielectric polarization governs high-frequency DEP repulsion

T. Mller et al.,
J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys.
29, 340 (1996).

Effective Dipole Moment

For a spherical particle of radius r and complex permittivity p*,

suspended in a fluid (m*), the effective dipole moment is derived as

&
p

H p *  H m* 3 &
r E
4SH m *
*
H  2H
m
p

V
Hj
Z

K (Z )

(Simplified)

H p*  H m *
H p*  2H m *

The effective dipole moment of the particle is frequency dependent.

This dependence is described by the Clausius-Mossotti factor, which
indicates the relative polarizability of the particle with respect to its
suspending medium.

The electrokinetic force on a particle subjected under an E field is

& &
&
& &
&
F FEP  FDEP qE  ( p ) E

The time-averaged dielectrophoretic force is

&
&*
&
1
Re[( p ) E ]
 F DEP !
2

SH m r Re[
3

&*
Assume there is no spatially varying phase ( E

H p*  H m*
H p *  2H m

&
] E
*

(IR  iII )

IR

&
E )

Clausius-Mossotti Factor

The real part of CM factor defines the frequency dependence and

direction of the force.
K (Z )

H p*  H m *
H p  2H m
*

V
Hj
Z

&
&2
H p *  H m*
&
1
*
3
Re[( p ) E ] SH m r Re[ *
] E
 FDEP !
*
2
H p  2H m

CM factor as a function of frequency

Gm

m

m
p

Cm

cyto
cyto

m
m

p

(A and B) p = 2.4 m = 81
p = 2e-4 S/m, m = 0 to 0.05 S/m

Theoretical K() values for bioparticles

(Huang Y. et al, Anal Chem 2001)

Dielectrophoretic Force
*
*
&
&2

H
H
p
m
3
 FDEP ! SH m r Re[ *
] E
*
H p  2H m

The DEP force is zero if the electric field is uniform.

The DEP force scales with the square of the voltage (or electric field).
Reversing the bias does not reverse the force. Spatial dependence of
the DEP force arise from electric field component.
The DEP force scales inversely with the cube of the electrode gap.
Decreasing the characteristic dimensions of the electrode by one
order of magnitude can lead to a three orders of magnitude increase
in the DEP force.
The DEP force is proportional to the particle volume. Strong electric
fields (104-105 V/m) are required to manipulate micron-scale particles.
Microfabricated electrodes can provide the required high E field only
with several volts. Joule heating effect can also be minimized with
microfluidic channels with high surface/volume ratio.

Dielectrophoretic Mobility

If a particle moves under the influence of a DEP force, the equation of

motion is

dv
dt

FDEP  FK

Steady-state

FDEP FK 6SKrv
*
*
&
&2

H
H
p
m
3
 FDEP ! SH m r Re[ *
] E
*
H p  2H m
DEP mobility

P DEP

v
&2
E

*
*
H
H

m
H m r 2 Re[ p*
]
*
H p  2H m
6K

(Other forces ignored)

DEP with a Spatially Dependent Phase

For a AC field, such as that generated by the application of multiple

potentials of different phase, the derivation of the dielectrophoretic
force is more involved and the DEP force can be expressed as.
&*
E (IR  iII )

*
*
*
*
&
&
&*
&*
2
H
H
H
H


p
m
p
m
3
3
 FDEP ! SH m r Re[ *
] E  2SH m r Im[ *
]( u (Re[ E ] u Im[E ]))
*
*
H p  2H m
H p  2H m

Electrorotation

Travelling wave DEP

Dielectrophoresis (DEP)

Electrophoresis

Dielectrophoresis

Motion of a particle is determined by Motion is determined by the

a net intrinsic electrical charge arried magnitude and polarity of charges
by that particle.
induced in the particle by an applied
field.
DC field, usually homogeneous

AC field of a wide range of .

Must be inhomogeneous

Gravity and Brownian Motion

Gravity and Buoyant forces

The effective mass of a spherical particle suspended in a medium
'm

4 3
Sr ( U p  U m )
3

Fgrav  Fbuoy

Sedimentational force

'm g

Sedimentation rate in a steady-state condition

v

'm g
6SKr

2
2 r (U p  Um ) g
9
K

(What if there is a non-uniform heating in the system?)

Brownian motion
Particles in solution experience a random force due to the thermal
energy of the system, causing them to move in a random manner.
The rms velocity of the particle is
2

 v !1/ 2

3kT
m

Competition of Forces

Submicron particle manipulation requires very high field strength to

overcome Brownian motion. The DEP potential must exceed the
thermal energy.
H p *  H m* & 2
3
SH m r Re[ *
] E t kT
*
H p  2H m
Side effects: AC electroosmosis and possible cell damage or
electroporation.

Particle-Particle Interaction

The particles are not isolated entities and particle-particle interaction

must be considered.

Two or more particles with the same sign of charges suspended in an

insulating medium will repel each other.

However, in electrolyte the available free charges screens the

particles charge and the field produced by the particles charge
rapidly decays with distance. Therefore any long-range electrostatic
interaction with other particles does not occur. But when the particles
are very close, both electrostatic interactions and van der Waals may
become visible, resulting in the formation of long chains.

Microfabricated DEP

Au electrode
Spacer

Electrode substrate
Without fluid flow

With fluid flow

Flow

Separation, trapping, movement, levitation, rotation, identification,

and other manipulations of cells and microorganisms

DEP: Electrode Design

DEP Applications

The characterization of blood cell subpopulations on normal blood

and the detection of perturbations of those subpopulations resulting
from diseases.

Sample collection (enrichment) for biological warfare agents or

pathogens (bacteria, viruses) detection.

Integrated isolation and molecular analysis of tumor cells.

Bioparticle fractionation based on DEP-FFF or DEP chromatography.

Cell patterning for in-vitro cell culture

Particle focusing for flow cytometry

Single cell manipulation

Detection of molecular binding

Example: Single Cell Cage

Example: Endothelial Cell Patterning

Separation of Listeria from Whole Blood

Before

Separation: 10 kHz, 10 Vpp

After wash blood off

Wash blood off

Wash Listeria off