Numerical investigation of field-effect control on hybrid electrokinetics for continuous and position-tunable nanoparticle concentration in microfluidics

We introduce herein an effective way for continuous delivery and position-switchable trapping of nanoparticles via field-effect control on hybrid electrokinetics (HEK). Flow field-effect transistor exploiting HEK delicately combines horizontal linear electroosmosis and transversal nonlinear electroosmosis of a shiftable flow stagnation line (FSL) on gate terminals under DC-biased AC forcing. The microfluidic nanoparticle concentrator proposed herein makes use of a simple device geometry, in which an individual or a series of planar metal strips serving as gate electrode (GE) are subjected to a hybrid gate voltage signal and arranged in parallel between a pair of 3D driving electrodes. On the application of a DC-biased AC electric field across channel length direction, all the GE are electrochemically polarized, and the action of imposed hybrid electric field on the multiple-frequency bipolar counterions within the composite-induced double layer generates two counter-rotating induced-charge electroosmotic (ICEO) micro-vortices on top of each GE. Symmetry breaking in ICEO flow profile occurs once the gate voltage deviates from natural floating potential of corresponding GE. The gate voltage offset not only results in an additional pump motion of working fluid for enhanced electroosmotic transport but also directly changes the location of FSL where nanoparticles are preferentially collected by field-effect HEK. Our results of field-effect control on HEK are supposed to guide an elaborate design of flexible electrokinetic frameworks embedding coplanar metal strips for a high degree of freedom analyte manipulation in modern micro-total-analytical systems.     

Mechanistic Insights into Cyclic Voltammograms on Pt(111): Kinetics Simulations

A detailed understanding of the electrochemistry of platinum electrodes is of great importance for the electrochemical oxidation of fuels and electrochemical reduction of dioxygen in fuel cells. The Pt(111) facet is the most representative model mimicking Pt nanoparticles and polycrystals for fundamental studies. Herein, we propose a site-specific model accompanied with the typical elementary steps of the electrochemistry of Pt(111) in non-adsorbing electrolyte within the potential range between 0.05 and 1.15 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode. Simulations were conducted at different scanning rates based on the kinetics models. We reproduce all the anodic and cathodic peaks observed in the reported experimental curves. These results demonstrate the underlying mechanisms of the peak formation in different potential regions.     

Induced soap-film flow by non-uniform alternating electric field

Fluid flows generated on soap films by non-uniform alternating electric fields are studied. Two parallel metal rods subjected to an AC voltage are placed perpendicular to the soap film, which is anchored in a dielectric frame. The fluid flow is generated by electrohydrodynamic induction. At very low signal frequencies there is induced surface charge, but there is no tangential electric field at the surface, so there is no force and no flow. Fluid flow is observed increasing the frequency, when there are both surface charge and tangential electric field. The flow velocity increases with decreasing thickness of the soap film.     

Electropatterning—Contemporary developments for selective particle arrangements employing electrokinetics

The selective positioning and arrangement of distinct types of multiscale particles can be used in numerous applications in microfluidics, including integrated circuits, sensors and biochips. Electrokinetic (EK) techniques offer an extensive range of options for label-free manipulation and patterning of colloidal particles by exploiting the intrinsic electrical properties of the target of interest. EK-based techniques have been widely implemented in many recent studies, and various methodologies and microfluidic device designs have been developed to achieve patterning two- and three-dimensional (3D) patterned structures. This review provides an overview of the progress in electropatterning research during the last 5 years in the microfluidics arena. This article discusses the advances in the electropatterning of colloids, droplets, synthetic particles, cells, and gels. Each subsection analyzes the manipulation of the particles of interest via EK techniques such as electrophoresis and dielectrophoresis. The conclusions summarize recent advances and provide an outlook on the future of electropatterning in various fields of application, especially those with 3D arrangements as their end goal.     

纳米孔道动电效应能量转换系统的前沿研究进展

可再生清洁能源的开发和利用对人类社会的可持续发展具有重要意义。 基于动电效应的纳米孔道能量转换系统将流体机械能转化为电能,有望应用于微型电源部件、自驱动纳米机器、微机电体系等领域,为清洁能源发电系统的开发提供了全新的选择。 纳米孔道中的机械能-电能转换过程涉及固体孔道与流体界面间的相互作用,合理设计孔道界面的微观结构,对其进行化学修饰及探讨界面间的相互作用,是提高能量转换效率和输出功率的关键。 近年来,随着纳米技术的迅猛发展及人们对界面物理化学的深入研究,纳米孔道结构和纳流体发电体系能被更精准地设计和集成。 本文主要介绍了基于动电效应的纳米孔道能量转换系统的基本概念,重点关注了纳米孔道中动电效应的最新研究进展,并对该领域进行了展望,为纳米孔道动电效应能量转换系统、纳米发电机、自驱动纳米机器、可穿戴器件等领域的进一步发展和应用提供参考。     

Rapid detection of trace Cu2+ using an l‐cysteine based interdigitated electrode sensor integrated with AC electrokinetic enrichment

Copper is an indispensable trace element for human health. Too much or too little intake of copper ion (Cu²⁺) can lead to its own adverse health conditions. Therefore, detection of Cu²⁺ is always of vital importance. In this work, a simple sensor was developed for rapid detection of trace Cu²⁺ in water, in which L‐cysteine (Cys) as a molecular probe was self‐assembled on a gold interdigital electrode to form a monolayer for specific capture of Cu²⁺. The interfacial capacitance of interdigital electrode was detected to indicate the target adsorption level under an AC signal working as the excitation to induce directed movement and enrichment of Cu²⁺ to the electrode surface. This sensor reached a limit of detection of 4.14 fM and a satisfactory selectivity against eight other ions (Zn²⁺, Hg²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cd²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺, As³⁺, and As⁵⁺). Testing of spiked tap water was also performed, demonstrating the sensor's usability. This sensor as well as the detection method shows a great application potential in fields such as environmental monitoring and medical diagnosis.     

Induction and suppression of cell lysis in an electrokinetic microfluidic system

The ability to strategically induce or suppress cell lysis is critical for many cellular-level diagnostic and therapeutic applications conducted within electrokinetic microfluidic platforms. The chemical and structural integrity of sub-cellular components is important when inducing cell lysis. However, metal electrodes and electrolytes participate in undesirable electrochemical reactions that alter solution composition and potentially damage protein, RNA, and DNA integrity within device microenvironments. For many biomedical applications, cell viability must be maintained even when device-imposed cell-stressing stimuli (e.g., electrochemical reaction byproducts) are present. In this work, we explored a novel and tunable method to accurately induce or suppress device-imposed artifacts on human red blood cell (RBC) lysis in non-uniform AC electric fields. For precise tunability, a dielectric hafnium oxide (HfO₂) layer was used to prevent electron transfer between the electrodes and the electric double layer and thus reduce harmful electrochemical reactions. Additionally, a low concentration of Triton X-100 surfactant was explored as a tool to stabilize cell membrane integrity. The extent of hemolysis was studied as a function of time, electrode configuration (T-shaped and star-shaped), cell position, applied non-uniform AC electric field, with uncoated and HfO₂ coated electrodes (50 nm), and absence and presence of Triton X-100 (70 µM). Tangible outcomes include a parametric analysis relying upon literature and this work to design, tune, and operate electrokinetic microdevices to intentionally induce or suppress cellular lysis without altering intracellular components. Implications are that devices can be engineered to leverage or minimize device-imposed biological artefacts extending the versatility and utility of electrokinetic diagnostics.     

Structure and electrokinetic study of nickel electrodeposition

Electrodeposited layers of nickel show different growth characteristics depending on the composition of the electrolyte, namely the type of the anion, the presence or the absence of boric acid and the pH. These process parameters are examined in the present work in order to elucidate their influence upon the growth texture and the related surface morphology of the electrodeposits. The relationship between process and structure is investigated by studying the transient electrochemical behavior during deposition, in order to discriminate between different interface conditions corresponding to different growth modes. The observed preferred orientations can be in this way linked to different reactive species, which are assumed to be present at the surface, and to their stability. The correlation between kinetics and structure in nickel electrodeposition reported in the present work and the similar correlation found in cobalt electrodeposition suggest a rationalization of the growth modes of ECD inert metals, based on the correspondence between the transient Tafel parameter and the growth texture observed in defined conditions. Published in Russian in Elektrokhimiya, 2008, Vol. 44, No. 6, pp. 771–783. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

AC electrokinetic immobilization of influenza virus

The use of alternating current (AC) electrokinetic forces, like dielectrophoresis and AC electroosmosis, as a simple and fast method to immobilize sub-micrometer objects onto nanoelectrode arrays is presented. Due to its medical relevance, the influenza virus is chosen as a model organism. One of the outstanding features is that the immobilization of viral material to the electrodes can be achieved permanently, allowing subsequent handling independently from the electrical setup. Thus, by using merely electric fields, we demonstrate that the need of prior chemical surface modification could become obsolete. The accumulation of viral material over time is observed by fluorescence microscopy. The influences of side effects like electrothermal fluid flow, causing a fluid motion above the electrodes and causing an intensity gradient within the electrode array, are discussed. Due to the improved resolution by combining fluorescence microscopy with deconvolution, it is shown that the viral material is mainly drawn to the electrode edge and to a lesser extent to the electrode surface. Finally, areas of application for this functionalization technique are presented.     

Differential electrochemical behaviour of phytofabricated and chemically synthesized silver nanoparticles towards hydrogen peroxide sensing**

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are one of the most widely used nanomaterials for biomedical applications. However, the impact of its synthesis by chemical and plant-mediated routes on its differential electrochemical behaviour has not been examined till date. Here, we report for the first time the differential study of the electrochemical behaviour of the AgNPs synthesized by different routes. First, the AgNPs were obtained by different routes (chemical and phytofabrication) and extensively characterized to compare their physical properties. Thereafter, a comparison of electron transfer kinetics between chemically synthesized (Ag−C) and phyto-fabricated (Ag-Phy) nanoparticles (NPs) has been studied by electrochemical techniques such as potentiodynamic cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). To further investigate the electrocatalytic properties of both types of AgNPs, we have used the peroxide moieties (H₂O₂), and the Ag−C NPs-based sensor probe has been reported to have four times better sensitivity than the Ag−Phy NPs-based sensor. The AgNPs modified sensor probes have also been tested in real-world environments to explore the consistency of their performance in complex matrices by using clinical urine samples, where we found comparable sensitivity to the standard conditions.