Electrokinetics in microfluidic channels containing a floating electrode.
Electrokinetic transport within a buffer-filled microchannel incorporating a flat bipolar electrode is investigated. The key finding is that the presence of the electrode disrupts the passage of electrical current through the microchannel and thereby alters the uniformity of the local electric field. Electroosmotic flow further modulates the local field gradient. These dynamics are demonstrated experimentally by utilizing the field gradient for concentration enrichment of negatively charged tracer molecules, and a set of computer simulations is presented to interpret the underlying electrokinetics.
Dhopeshwarkar
Rahul
R
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Electrochemistry, Texas Materials Institute, The University of Texas at Austin, 1 University Station, A5300, Austin, Texas 78712-0165, USA.
Hlushkou
Dzmitry
D
Nguyen
Mark
M
Tallarek
Ulrich
U
Crooks
Richard M
RM