DIELECTROPHORETIC SEPARATION OF NANO-PARTICLES

We show for the first time that it is possible to separate a populatio n of nanoparticles into two subpopulations solely on the basis of thei r dielectric properties. Using nanofabricated electrode arrays it has been shown that a solution of 93 nm diameter latex beads with a distri bution of surface charge can be separated by the application of non-un iform AC electric fields (dielectrophoresis). The mixture separated in to two populations, one experiencing positive dielectrophoresis and th e other negative dielectrophoresis.