Dielectrophoretic mobility determination in DC insulator-based dielectrophoresis

Insulator-based dielectrophoresis (iDEP) is a powerful tool for separating and characterizing particles, yet it is limited by a lack of quantitative characterizations. Here, this limitation is addressed by employing a method capable of quantifying the DEP mobility of particles. Using streak-based velocimetry the particle properties are deduced from their motion in a microfluidic channel with a constant electric field gradient. From this approach, the DEP mobility of 1μm polystyrene particles was found to be -2±0.410^-8cm⁴/(V²s). In the future, such quantitative treatment will allow for the elucidation of unique insights and rational design of devices.