Emilio Ruiz-Reina

Microfluidics allows for the precise control of small sample volumes through spatial confinement and exact routing of fluids. Usually, this is achieved by physical barriers. However, the rigidity of these barriers limits flexibility in certain applications. We introduce an optofluidic approach that leverages structured light and photothermal conversion to create dynamic, reconfigurable fluidic boundaries that can be easily integrated in existing setups. This system enables the controlled manipulation of fluids and particles by generating adjustable three-dimensional thermal landscapes. We demonstrate that our reconfigurable approach replicates the functions of traditional barriers and allows real-time adjustments for tasks such as individual particle steering and size-based sorting in heterogeneous mixtures. These results highlight the potential for adaptive and multifunctional microfluidic systems in applications such as chemical synthesis, lab-on-chip devices and microbiology.

A novel platform that combines optical and dielectrophoretic traps to enhance microparticle manipulation and analysis.

This study investigates fixed and moving mesh methodologies for modeling liquid metal–free surface deformation during the induction melting process. The numerical method employs robust coupling of magnetic fields with the hydrodynamics of the turbulent stirring of liquid metal. Free surface tracking is implemented using the fixed mesh level set (LS) and the moving mesh arbitrary Lagrangian–Eulerian (ALE) formulation. The model’s geometry and operating parameters are designed to replicate a semi-industrial induction melting furnace. Six case studies are analyzed under varying melt masses and coil power levels, with validation performed by comparing experimentally measured free surface profiles and magnetic field distributions. The melt’s stirring velocity and recirculation patterns are also examined. The comparative analysis determines an improved performance of the ALE method, convergence, and computational efficiency. Experimental validation confirms that the ALE method reproduces the free surface shape more precisely, avoiding unrealistic topological changes observed in LS simulations. The ALE method faces numerical convergence difficulties for high-power and low-mass filling cases due to mesh element distortion. The proposed ALE-based simulation procedure is a potential numerical optimization tool for enhancing induction melting processes, offering scalable and robust solutions for industrial applications.

In the present work, a general model of the electrokinetics and dielectric response of a concentrated salt-free colloid is developed which includes consideration of the finite size of the counterions released by the particles to the solution, a nonhomogeneous permittivity of the solution, the existence of Born and dielectrophoretic forces acting on the counterions, and especially the fact that the solution viscosity and diffusion counterion coefficient are allowed to be functions of the local counterion concentration. These effects have recently been discussed by J. J. López-García et al. [ Phys. Rev. Fluids 4, 103702 (2019)] in the case of dilute colloids in general electrolyte solutions. The objective of this work is to explore the new effects and their influence on the electrokinetic response of concentrated salt-free systems. Present results confirm previous findings regarding the important increases of the dc electrophoretic mobility and dc electrical conductivity, as well as huge increments of the dynamic electrophoretic mobilities at high frequencies when finite-ion-size effects were taken into account. In addition, consideration of the viscosity of the solution and of the counterion diffusion coefficient as functions of the local counterion concentration leads to a decrease of the magnitude of the previous electrokinetic results. The theory incorporates a more convenient hard-sphere hydrodynamic model to account for the nonhomogeneous viscosity of the solution than others proposed in previous works in the literature. A comparison is elaborated on between electrokinetic and dielectric responses with different levels of complexity of the theoretical model, starting from the case of pointlike counterions and following with the inclusion in sequence of additional aspects such as finite counterion size, nonhomogeneous electrical permittivity with associated Born and dielectrophoretic effects, and, finally, position-dependent viscosity and diffusion counterion coefficient, and clearly shows the influence of individual effects on the general electrokinetic response and especially the relevant role the nonhomogeneous viscosity on the dc and ac electrokientic behavior of salt-free colloids.

Efficient mixing and pumping of liquids at the microscale is a technology that is still to be optimized. The combination of an AC electric field with a small temperature gradient leads to a strong electro-thermal flow that can be used for multiple purposes. Combining simulations and experiments, an analysis of the performance of electro-thermal flow is provided when the temperature gradient is generated by illuminating plasmonic nanoparticles in suspension with a near-resonance focused laser. Fluid flow is measured by tracking the velocity of fluorescent tracer microparticles in suspension as a function of the electric field, laser power, and concentration of plasmonic particles. Among other results, a non-linear relationship is found between the velocity of the fluid and particle concentration, which is justified in terms of multiple scattering-absorption events, involving aggregates and individual particles, that lead to enhanced absorption when the concentration is raised. Simulations provide a description of the phenomenon that is compatible with experiments and constitute a way to understand and estimate the absorption and scattering cross-sections of dispersed particles and/or aggregates. A comparison of experiments and simulations suggests that the gold nanoparticles are aggregated forming clusters of about 5-9 particles, but no information about their structure cannot be obtained without further theoretical and experimental developments. This nonlinear behavior could be useful to get very high ETP velocities by inducing some controlled aggregation of the particles.

In the Atacama Desert, the spectral distribution of solar radiation differs from the global standard, showing very high levels of irradiation with a particularly high ultraviolet content. Additionally, the response of photovoltaic (PV) technologies is spectrally dependent, so it is necessary to consider local conditions and type of technology to optimize PV devices since solar cells are usually designed for maximum performance under standard testing conditions (STC). In this work, we determined geometrical and doping parameters to optimize the power of an n-type bifacial passivated emitter and rear totally diffused solar cell (n-PERT). Six parameters (the thicknesses of cell, emitter, and back surface field, as well as doping concentration of emitter, base, and back surface field) were used to optimize the cell under the Atacama Desert spectrum (AM 1.08) and under standard conditions (AM 1.5) through a genetic algorithm. To validate the model, the calculated performance of the n-PERT cell was compared with experimental measurements. Computed and experimental efficiencies showed a relative difference below 1% under STC conditions. Through the optimization process, we found that different geometry and doping concentrations are necessary for cells to be used in the Atacama Desert. Reducing the thickness of all layers and increasing doping can lead to a relative increment of 5.4% in the cell efficiency under AM 1.08. Finally, we show the potential effect of metallization and the viability of reducing the thicknesses of the emitter and the back surface field.

In the present work, a general model is developed for the electrokinetics and dielectric response of a concentrated salt-free colloid that takes into account the finite size of the counterions released by the particles to the solution. The effects associated with the counterion finite size have been addressed using a hard-sphere model approach elaborated by Carnahan and Starling [N. F. Carnahan and K. E. Starling, Equation of state for nonattracting rigid spheres, J. Chem. Phys. 51, 635 (1969)]. A more simple description of the finite size of the counterions based on that by Bikerman has also been considered for comparison. The studies carried out in this work include predictions on the effect of the finite counterion size on the equilibrium properties of the colloid and its electrokinetic and dielectric response when it is subjected to constant or alternating electric fields. The results show how important the counterion finite-size effects are for most of the electrokinetic and dielectric properties of highly charged and concentrated colloids, mainly for the static and dynamic electrophoretic mobilities. Furthermore, new insights are provided on the counterion condensation effect when counterions are allowed to have finite size. Focus is placed on the changes undergone by their concentration in the condensation layer for low-salt and highly charged colloids.

Electrokinetics is the science of the physical phenomena appearing at the solid-liquid interface of dispersed particles subjected to external fields. Techniques based on electrokinetic phenomena constitute an important set of tools for the electrical characterization of colloids because of their sensitivity to the properties of particle-solution interfaces. Their rigorous description may require inclusion of the effects of finite size of chemical species in the theoretical models, and, particularly in the case of salt-free (no external salt added) aqueous colloids, also consideration of water dissociation and possible carbon dioxide contamination in the aqueous solution. A new ac electrokinetic model is presented for concentrated salt-free spherical colloids for arbitrary characteristics of the particles and aqueous solution, including finite-size effects of chemical species by appropriate modifications of the chemical reaction equations to include such non-ideal aspects. The numerical solution of the electrokinetic equations in an alternating electric field has also been carried out by using a realistic non-equilibrium scenario accounting for association-dissociation processes in the chemical reactions. The results demonstrate the importance of including finite-size effects in the electrokinetic response of the colloid, mainly at high frequencies of the electric field, and for highly charged colloids. Findings of previous models for pointlike ions or for ideal salt-free colloids including finite ion size effects are recovered with the present model, for the appropriate limiting conditions.