Dielectrophoretic motions of a pair of particles in the vicinity of a planar wall under a direct-current electric field

This paper presents direct simulations on the two-dimensional dielectrophoretic (DEP) motion of a pair of particles in a viscous fluid, interacting with a nearby planar wall, to further understand the DEP interaction among multiple particles and a wall. Results show that, under an external direct-current electric field parallel to the wall-fluid interface, the nearby wall has significant effects on the DEP motion of both particles including their revolution, alignment and aligned movement. Regardless of their particle conductivity, the wall being less (more) conductive than the fluid pushes (draws) both particles to move away from (toward) it.