Enhancement of electrokinetically driven microfluidic T-mixer using frequency modulated electric field and channel geometry effects

This study reports improved electrokinetically driven microfluidic T-mixers to enhance their mixing efficiency. Enhancement of electrokinetic microfluidic T-mixers is achieved using (i) an active approach of utilizing a pulsating EOF, and (ii) a passive approach of using the channel geometry effect...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Electrophoresis 2009-09, Vol.30 (18), p.3144-3152
Main Authors: Yan, Deguang, Yang, Chun, Miao, Jianmin, Lam, Yeecheong, Huang, Xiaoyang
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Algorithms
Computer Simulation
Electromagnetic Fields
Electroosmosis - instrumentation
Electroosmosis - methods
Electroosmotic flow
Equipment Design
Micro-mixing
Micro-PIV measurement
Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - instrumentation
Microfluidic Analytical Techniques - methods
Microfluidics
Models, Theoretical
T-mixer
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Summary:This study reports improved electrokinetically driven microfluidic T-mixers to enhance their mixing efficiency. Enhancement of electrokinetic microfluidic T-mixers is achieved using (i) an active approach of utilizing a pulsating EOF, and (ii) a passive approach of using the channel geometry effect with patterned blocks. PDMS-based electrokinetic T-mixers of different designs were fabricated. Experimental measurements were carried out using Rhodamine B to examine the mixing performance and the micro-particle image velocimetry technique to characterize the electrokinetic flow velocity field. Scaling analysis provides an effective frequency range of applied AC electric field. Results show that for a T-mixer of 10 mm mixing length, utilizing frequency modulated electric field and channel geometry effects can increase the mixing efficiency from 50 to 90%. In addition, numerical simulations were performed to analyze the mixing process in the electrokinetic T-mixers with various designs. The simulation results were compared with the experimental data, and reasonable agreement was found.
ISSN:0173-0835
1522-2683
DOI:10.1002/elps.200900162