Length-selective dielectrophoretic manipulation of single-walled carbon nanotubes

A method of manufacturing a microfluidic device for sorting particles, the method comprising:

• generating a chrome photomask;
• applying the photomask to a silicon master wafer;
• mixing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) elastomer base with a curing agent to form a mixture;
• pouring the mixture over the master wafer;
• curing the master wafer to form a PDMS cast;
• removing the PDMS cast from the master wafer;
• irreversibly bonding the PDMS cast with a glass slide to form the microfluidic device, the microfluidic device comprising:
• an inlet channel including a constriction, wherein a cross-sectional area of the inlet channel reduces at the constriction;
• a center channel;
• at least one side channel, wherein the inlet channel splits into multiple channels after the constriction, the multiple channels including the center channel and the at least one side channel;
• wherein the inlet channel diverges from the constriction into the center channel and the at least one side channel;
• and
• positioning an electrode in the center channel where an electrical field source is configured to apply an electrical field between the electrode and a proximal end of the inlet channel.