Contact Charge Electrophoresis: Fundamentals and Microfluidic Applications

Contact charge electrophoresis (CCEP) uses steady electric fields to drive the oscillatory motion of conductive particles and droplets between two or more electrodes. In contrast to traditional forms of electrophoresis and dielectrophoresis, CCEP allows for rapid and sustained particle motions driven by low-power dc voltages. These attributes make CCEP a promising mechanism for powenng active components for mobile microfluidic technologies. This Feature Article describes our current understanding of CCEP as well as recent strategies to harness it for applications in microfluidics and beyond.