Sorting ZnO particles of different shapes with low frequency AC electric fields

Separation of nanoparticles from a mixture of particles with different geometries by applying non-uniform AC electric field is investigated. For this propose, two morphologies of ZnO, rod and cubic shape, were synthesized in two separate processes. Then, they were mixed and dispersed in acetone and exposed to the electric field for being separated. It was found that combination of AC-electroosmosis which is present at low frequencies, and dielectrophoretic (DEP) force exerted on particles in non-uniform AC electric fields may yield to separation of particles based on their shape difference. This paper introduces an effective method for sorting and purification of nanoparticles after chemical synthesis based on their geometrical shape.