Orienting lipid-coated graphitic micro-particles in solution using AC electric fields: A new theoretical dual-ellipsoid Laplace model for electro-orientation

Graphitic micro-particles are commonly coated with thin layers to generate stable aqueous dispersions for various applications. Such particles are technologically interesting as they can be manipulated with electric fields. Modeling the electrical manipulation of submerged layered micro-particles analytically or numerically is not straightforward. In particular, the generation of reliable quantitative torque predictions for electro-orientation experiments has been elusive. The traditional Laplace model approximates the coated particle by an ellipsoid with a confocal ellipsoidal layer and solves Laplace's equation to produce convenient analytical predictions. However, due to the non-uniformity of the layer thickness around the ellipsoid, this method can lead to incorrect torque predictions. Here we present a new theoretical dual-ellipsoid Laplace model that corrects the effect of the non-uniform layer thickness by calculating two layered ellipsoids, each accounting for the correct layer thickness along each relevant direction for the torque. Our model describes the electro-orientation of submerged lipid-coated graphitic micro-particles in the presence of an alternating current (AC) electric field and is valid for ellipsoids with moderate aspect ratios and coated with thin shells. It is one of the first models to generate correct quantitative electric torque predictions. We present model results for the torque versus frequency and compare them to our measurements for lipid-coated highly ordered pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) micro-flakes in aqueous NaCl solution at MHz frequencies. The results show how the lipid shell changes the overall electrical properties of the micro-flakes so that the torque is low at low frequencies and increases at higher frequencies into the MHz regime. The torque depends critically on the lipid-shell thickness, the solution conductivity and the shape of the particle, all of which can be used as handles to control the response of the particles. Our model is useful to predict the frequencies at which electro-orientation can be observed in dilute dispersions and the reduction in torque caused by the shell.