Device and method of manipulating particles

A method of manipulating particles, the method comprising:

• providing a device for manipulating particles in an electrolyte solution, the device comprising:
• a channel for accommodating an electrolyte solution including particles to be manipulated;
• an anode and cathode for imposing a direct current (DC) electric field on the channel;
• a floating electrode attached to an inner wall of the channel and resulting in induced-charge electroosmosis near a surface of the channel;
• a DC power supply unit for supplying a DC voltage to the anode and the cathode;
• two control electrodes respectively disposed on sides of the floating electrode and capable of independently tuning induced-charge electroosmosis engendered by the floating electrode regardless of a global electric field across the channel by locally controlling the DC voltage applied to the anode and cathode;
• and
• a local control DC power supply unit for supplying a DC voltage to the two control electrodes,
• providing the electrolyte solution including the particles into the channel;
• imposing an electric field on the channel by applying a DC voltage to the anode and the cathode;
• and
• manipulating the particles in the electrolyte solution by locally controlling a magnitude and polarity of the DC voltage applied to the two control electrodes.