An integrated AC electrokinetic pump in a microfluidic loop for fast and tunable flow control
Analyst. 2004-01-01; 129(10): 944-949
DOI: 10.1039/b408382m
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1. Analyst. 2004 Oct;129(10):944-9. Epub 2004 Aug 9.
An integrated AC electrokinetic pump in a microfluidic loop for fast and tunable
flow control.
Studer V(1), Pepin A, Chen Y, Ajdari A.
Author information:
(1)Laboratoire de Photonique et Nanostructures, UPR CNRS 20, route de Nozay,
F-91460 Marcoussis, France.
We have built a dedicated lab on a chip to study the performance of an integrated
electrokinetic micropump, driven by a low voltage AC signal. This micropump
consists of an array of interdigitated electrodes and is here integrated in a
microfluidic loop. We demonstrate that this device can pump continuously and
reproducibly electrolyte solutions of low to moderate ionic strength. The pumping
speed reaches up to 500 [micro sign]m s(-1) in 20 [micro sign]m deep and 100
[micro sign]m wide channels with a driving signal in the 1-10 kHz range and an
amplitude of only a few volts. In addition, we have observed an interesting
reversal of the pumping direction at higher frequencies (50-100 kHz). Our device
permits a systematic and automated exploration of the influence of the ionic
strength thanks to an integrated micromixer.
DOI: 10.1039/b408382m
PMID: 15457328