Method and device for moving molecules by the application of a plurality of electrical fields

A method for moving charged particles through a medium, comprising:

• placing the charged particles in a movement area having defined boundaries, formed on a non-porous, non-electrically conductive substrate with neglible surface charge, and containing multiple electrodes at each end and within each movement area, the electrodes separated by a distance between one and 100 microns, and providing a plurality of electrical fields to the movement area, and a medium therein, wherein the medium is comprised of particles different from the charged particles and provides frictional resistance to the charged molecules moving through the medium;
• generating a voltage profile along a given direction of the movement area by simultaneously activating electrodes placed along the movement area with different voltages so as to provide the voltage profile;
• and
• continuing to generate the voltage profile in a manner to cause the charged particles to move through the medium in response to the forces created by the voltage profile.

A method for reacting particles comprising providing

• a device for moving charged particles through a medium, comprising a movement area with defined boundaries formed on a non-porous, non-electrically conductive substrate having neglible surface charge;
• a medium held in the movement area, the medium comprising material different from the particles to be reacted;
• multiple electrodes at each end and within each movement area, the electrodes separated by a distance between one and 100 microns, and providing a plurality of electrical fields to the movement area, the fields being of sufficient strength to move the charged molecules through the medium and from one electrical field to another along the movement area in a controlled manner,
• placing particles to be reacted into the movement area, and
• applying a voltage or electrical potential to the electrodes to move the particles to be reacted together under conditions promoting the reaction.

A device for moving charged particles through a medium, comprising:

• a movement area with defined boundaries formed on a non-porous, non-electrically conductive substrate having neglible surface charge;
• a medium held in the movement area, the medium comprising material different from the charged particles to be moved, the medium providing frictional resistance to the charged molecules to be moved;
• and
• multiple electrodes at each end and within each movement area providing a plurality of electrical fields to the movement area, the electrodes separated by a distance between one and 100 microns, the fields being of sufficient strength to move the charged molecules through the medium and from one electrical field to another along the movement area in a controlled manner.