Dielectrophoretic and acoustophoretic dual-sensing electroluminescent display

With the significant development of technologies based on dielectrophoretic or acoustophoretic forces, the dynamic visualization of these forces is important. Here, we present an electroluminescent display that enables comparative visualization of dielectrophoretic and acoustophoretic forces. Our display utilizes alternating current-driven electroluminescence in combination with conductive microparticle self-assembly controlled by dielectrophoretic and acoustophoretic forces. When an alternating current electric field is applied across the split-electrode configuration, the self-assembly of the conductive microparticles originating from the dielectrophoretic force generates a dielectrophoresis-dependent electroluminescence from the display. Alternatively, when an acoustic wave is transmitted to the display, the electroluminescence developed by dielectrophoresis is deactivated by acoustophoresis. The electroluminescent responses are modulated by the frequency and intensity of the dielectrophoretic and acoustophoretic forces, which enable force-sensitive visualization across both regimes and thereby a rewritable dual-mode sensing display. With this versatile display, visualization of temperature changes, noninvasive monitoring of microfluidic channels, and dynamic motion tracking are demonstrated. Our dual-mode electroluminescent display, responsive to forces across the piconewton to nanonewton range, holds significant potential for various applications in biomedical and physical sensing systems involving dielectrophoretic and acoustophoretic stimuli.