Optimization of microfluidic particle sorters based on dielectrophoresis

In this paper, improved dielectrophoretic particle sorters are introduced for application in microfluidics. The optimal shape of the electrodes is briefly discussed and two new sorter topologies are introduced. Based on the theoretical considerations, four sorter configurations are analyzed in detail. The devices are modeled by calculating the particle trajectories from a combination of finite-element simulations and analytical calculations. The four sorter configurations have been realized in chips based on silicon, glass, and SU8 technology. The simulations and the experimental results are in very good agreement and confirm that with the new sorter configurations, much higher performance can be realized (+200%) compared to the classical line electrodes found in literature.