Application Cases

Microfluidics is a technology that controls fluids at the microscale, capable of integrating analytical processes performed in a laboratory onto a microfluidic chip at the micrometer scale, which can significantly enhance the efficiency of experimental research. As a result, this technology has been applied in numerous scientific research fields. The methods for droplet sorting in microfluidics mainly include electrical sorting, acoustic sorting, magnetic sorting, and thermal sorting, among which the most classic method is electrical sorting. This method involves electrostatically driving droplets by altering their positive and negative charge properties. Moreover, using high-frequency alternating electric fields can greatly improve sorting efficiency.

Regarding experimental research on the direction of alternating electric fields, the ATA-7000 series power amplifiers from Aigtek have been widely used in this field. These amplifiers can output an alternating voltage of up to 20 kVpp, which is sufficient for most alternating electric field testing experiments.

Experiment Name: Dielectrophoretic Droplet Sorting Experiment

Experiment Principle:Electrically neutral droplets subjected to an alternating electric field experience motion due to the polarization effect of the electric field. The charges within the droplet are polarized by the alternating electric field, creating two charges of equal magnitude but opposite polarity within the droplet, forming a dipole moment. When this dipole moment is placed in a non-uniform electric field, the non-uniform local electric field strength on either side of the dipole causes the droplet to experience a net force from the non-uniform electric field, which is known as the dielectrophoretic force.

Experimental Block Diagram:

Experimental Photograph:

Experimental Process:

First, a microcontroller is used to program the high-voltage amplifier. Then, a function signal generator produces voltage signals with different waveform characteristics and frequencies, which need to be verified through repeated experiments to determine the optimal waveform and frequency. Finally, the ATA-2161 high-voltage amplifier from Aigtek is used to amplify the voltage signal output from the function generator. The amplified voltage signal is connected to the electrodes, generating an alternating electric field between them. Under the influence of this alternating electric field, droplets are sorted based on their electrical conductivity.

Application Directions:

• Electrobiomedical Field

• Biochemical Field

• Electronic Materials Field

Application Scenarios:

• Drug Purification

• Drug Toxicity Testing

• Cell Sorting

Product Recommendation: ATA-7000 Series High-Voltage Amplifiers

Figure: Performance Parameters of the ATA-7000 Series High-Voltage Amplifiers

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