Influence of the sinusoidal field frequency on dielectrophoretic capture of a particle on a rod

Using a model describing dielectrophoretic capture of a single spherical particle on a single cylindrical rod, it is shown that the time taken by the particle to be collected is a function of the frequency of the applied sinusoidal field. For certain critical frequencies, a kind of anti-resonance is discerned with the time required for collection reaching a maximum. A parametric study of this phenomenon involving the competing forces (drag, gravity) was carried out using a numerical analysis. The phase of the sinusoidal field is also shown to be of great importance.