Performance Study of Acoustophoretic Microfluidic Silicon-Glass Devices by Characterization of Material- and Geometry-Dependent Frequency Spectra

For lab-on-a-chip applications, an attractive mode of controlling fluid transport is piezoelectric actuation of acoustic pressure waves. In this study, optimal acoustophoretic frequencies are identified using mechanical macroscopic indicators, which allows one to bypass examination of the pressure field inside a microchannel. These macroscopic indicators are linked to the system's electromechanical characteristics, so electrical measurements can also be used to detect the optimal frequencies. These results may greatly simplify microfluidic devices, promoting this important biomedical technology.