When to use rectangular waveforms in dielectrophoresis application to increase separation and sorting efficiency

In this study, the influence of using rectangular waveforms is comprehensively investigated on the separation and sorting efficiency of dielectrophoretic (DEP) processes. Besides positive effects on DEP experiments, cases of a diminished force due to rectangular waveforms are investigated and discussed. This investigation encompasses two primary experimental setups. First, microparticle-focusing experiments are carried out using a pair of electrodes within a microfluidic channel. Second, separation experiments are performed using a macroscopic insulator-based dielectrophoretic filter. The study reveals that harmonics of rectangular signals can have a positive impact on separation or sorting efficiency when compared to sinusoidal waveforms, provided that these harmonics contribute to the overall DEP force with the same sign. This positive effect is found to depend on the ratio between the applied fundamental frequency and the cross-over frequency in the Clausius–Mossotti factor. However, violating related derived boundary conditions leads to negative effects and a decrease in the DEP net force.