Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Mixing and flow regulating by induced-charge electrokinetic flow in a microchannel with a pair of conducting triangle hurdles

  • Research Paper
  • Published:
Microfluidics and Nanofluidics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The induced-charge electrokinetic flow (ICEKF) in a rectangular micorchannel with a pair of conducting triangle hurdles embedded in the middle is investigated in this paper. A correction method is suggested to numerically estimate the induced zeta potential on the conducting surface. Two-dimensional pressure-linked Navier-–Stokes equation is used to model the flow field in the channel. The numerical results show flow circulations generated from the induced non-uniform zeta potential distribution along the conducting hurdle surfaces. It is demonstrated numerically that the local flow circulations provide effective means to enhance the flow mixing between different solutions; by adjusting the electric field applied through the microchannel with a non-symmetric triangle hurdle pair, an electrokinetic flow regulating effect can be obtained and this effect depends on the dimensions of the conducting converging–diverging section. The mixing and flow regulating using ICEKF described in this paper can be used in various microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip (LOC) applications.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Biddiss E, Erickson D, Li D (2004) Heterogeneous Surface Charge Enhanced Micromixing for Electrokinetic Flows. Anal Chem 76:3208–3213

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chin CD, Linder V, Sia SK (2007) Lab-on-a-chip devices for global health: past studies and future opportunities. Lab Chip 7:41–57

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • DeMello AJ (2006) Control and detection of chemical reactions in microfluidic systems. Nature 2006 442:394–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dertinger SKW, Chiu DT, Jeon NL, Whitesides GM (2001) Generation of gradients having complex shapes using microfluidic networks. Anal Chem 73:1240–1246

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dittrich PS, Manz A (2006) Lab-on-a-chip: microfluidics in drug discovery. Nat Rev Drug Discov 5:210–218

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • El-Ali J, Sorger PK, Jensen KF (2006) Cells on chips. Nature 442:403–411

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison DJ, Manz A, Fan Z, Luedi H, Widmer HM (1992) Capillary electrophoresis and sample injection systems integrated on a planar glass chip. Anal Chem 64:1926–1932

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harrison DJ et al (1993) Micromachining a miniaturized capillary electrophoresis-based chemical analysis system on a chip. Science 261:895–897

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunter RJ (1981) Zeta potential in colloid science: principals and applications. Academic, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ismagilov RF, Rosmarin D, Kenis PJA, Chiu DT, Zhang W, Stone HA, Whitesides GM (2001) Pressure-driven laminar flow in tangential microchannels: an elastomeric microfluidic switch. Anal Chem 73:4682–4687

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson SC, Hergenroder R, Koutny LB, Warmack RJ, Ramsey JM (1994) Effects of injection schemes and column geometry on the performance of microchip electrophoresis devices. Anal Chem 66:1107–1113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson SC, Ermakov SV, Ramsey JM (1999) Minimizing the number of voltage sources and fluid reservoirs for electrokinetic valving in microfluidic devices. Anal Chem 71:3273–3276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jeon NL, Chiu DT, Wargo CJ, Wu H (2002) Microfluidics section: design and fabrication of integrated passive valves and pumps for flexible polymer 3-dimensional microfluidic systems. Biomed Microdevices 4:117–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson TJ, Ross D, Gaitan M, Locascio LE (2001) Laser modification of preformed polymer microchannels: application to reduce band broadening around turns subject to electrokinetic flow. Anal Chem 73:3656–3661

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keh HJ, Anderson JL (1985) Boundary effects on electrophoretic motion of COLLOIDAL spheres. J Fluid Mech 153:417–439

    Article  MATH  Google Scholar 

  • Laser DJ, Santiago JG (2004) A review of micropumps. J Micromech Microeng 14:R35-R64

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lee J, Hu Y, Li D (2005) Electrokinetic concentration gradient generation using a converging–diverging microchannel. Anal Chim Acta 543:99–108

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Seiler K, Harrison DJ, Manz A (1993) Planar glass chips for capillary electrophoresis: repetitive sample injection, quantitation, and separation efficiency. Anal Chem 65:1481–1488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Squires TM, Bazant MZ (2004a) Induced-charge electro-osmosis. J Fluid Mech 509:217–252

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Squires TM, Bazant MZ (2004b) Induced-charge electrokinetic phenomena: theory and microfluidic applications. Phys Rev Lett 92: 066101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Squires TM, Bazant MZ (2006) Breaking symmetries in induced-charge electro-osmosis and electrophoresis. J. Fluid Mech 560:65–101

    Article  MATH  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Unger MA, Chou HP, Thorsen T, Scherer A, Quake SR (2000) Monolithic microfabricated valves and pumps by multilayer soft lithography. Science 288:113–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Whitesides GM (2006) The origins and the future of microfluidics. Nature 442:368–373

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, VU Station B 351592, Nashville, TN, 37235, USA

    Zhemin Wu & Dongqing Li

Authors
  1. Zhemin Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Dongqing Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dongqing Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wu, Z., Li, D. Mixing and flow regulating by induced-charge electrokinetic flow in a microchannel with a pair of conducting triangle hurdles. Microfluid Nanofluid 5, 65–76 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-007-0227-7

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-007-0227-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation