Electrode Shape Research Articles

Study on the suppression of parasitic resonance of film bulk acoustic wave resonators

To suppress the parasitic resonance of a film bulk acoustic resonator (FBAR) and meet the high-frequency requirements of 5G communication, an FBAR model was established based on COMSOL Multiphysics simulation software. The effects of the piezoelectric materials, electrode lateral size, electrode shape (rectangle, circle, trapezoid, and regular pentagon), and apodization angle (30°, 36°, 40°, and 45°) on parasitic resonance were studied, and the suppression effect of the step-load structure on lateral acoustic wave leakage was discussed. The simulation results show that the best suppression effect on parasitic resonance is achieved when the piezoelectric material is AlN, the electrode shape is a non-regular pentagon, and the apodization angle is 40°; when the resonant area is 3600μm2, its non-circularity is 6.45 %, which is equivalent to the rectangular electrode when the resonant area is 10000μm2. The designed electrode step-load structure improved the quality factor at the parallel resonance point. When the electrode lateral size is 60 μm, the quality factor of the second-order electrode load structure is 1378, which is 10.07 % higher than the quality factor of the electrode-free load structure.

Durability Design and Construction Enhancement of Textile Electrode Shape on Analysis of Its Surface Electromyography Signal

Durability Design and Construction Enhancement of Textile Electrode Shape on Analysis of Its Surface Electromyography Signal

Single-pulse discharge machining with different electrode shapes

Single-pulse discharge machining with different electrode shapes

Analysis of rock-breaking mechanisms of high-voltage pulsed electric electrode bits

High-voltage pulsed electric rock-breaking technology is an innovative, green, and efficient method with substantial potential in the field of rock fragmentation. The efficiency of this technology is primarily determined by the design of the electrode bit. To investigate the impact of electrode bit design on rock fragmentation, this study developed a three-dimensional electro-rock breaking model based on the coupling of multiple fields: current field, electrostatic field, breakdown field, heat transfer field, and solid mechanics field. Using this comprehensive three-dimensional model, we conducted dynamic electrical breakdown simulations of granite, incorporating five different electrode bit structures and six degrees of rock heterogeneity. The simulation results elucidate the effects of pulsed peak voltage, granite heterogeneity H , and electrode bit structure on the efficiency of high-voltage pulsed electric rock breaking. To validate the simulation results, laboratory experiments on electro-rock breaking were performed. The experimental findings indicate that the conical electrode bit exhibited the highest rock-breaking efficiency, while the pentagonal prism-shaped electrode bit showed the poorest performance. The tip of prismatic electrodes generates a tip discharge effect; for the triangular prism, this effect often results in irregular rock fragmentation, which is detrimental to drilling efficiency. These results highlight the significant influence of electrode shape on rocks’ electrical breakdown and fragmentation. This study provides valuable insights into the engineering application of high-voltage pulsed electric rock-breaking technology.

Fast-response liquid crystal display device with trapezoidal pixel electrodes

ABSTRACT A fast response liquid crystal display (LCD) with trapezoidal pixel electrodes is proposed. The trapezoidal shape of the pixel electrode generates a slanted electric field, eliminating the need for a non-zero pre-tilt angle to prevent random domain formation in the LC. Additionally, the absence of a pre-tilt angle enhances viewing angles. During operation, LC molecules can form virtual walls, increasing anchoring energy and improving response time. At 38% transmittance, the response time is 5.1 ms, while at 60% transmittance, it increases to 8.3 ms. With a circular polariser, the device achieves a contrast ratio of 200:1 and a viewing cone of approximately 18°. Consequently, the trapezoidal pixel electrode FFS cell is suitable for fast LCDs used in automotive displays and digital signage. Its narrow viewing angles with a circular polariser also make it ideal for personal privacy displays and certain mobile displays.

The effect of the electrodes shape in water electrolysis on the production of hydrogen

This article presents a comparative study of the production of hydrogen by the electrolysis of water using two forms of electrodes; cylindrical and flat. The objective of this comparison is to select the best type of electrolyzer to produce hydrogen for the same volume of water and the same operating voltage. An analytical study and experimental tests were carried out on a cylindrical electrolyser consisting of two concentric cylindrical electrodes separated by a variable thickness e (3.5 mm, 4 mm, 5.5 mm, 8.5 mm and 9 mm), then a flat electrolyser consisting of two flat electrodes spaced by a distance d (2 mm, 4 mm, 6 mm, 10 mm and 15 mm). For each cylindrical electrolyser there corresponds a single electrolyser with flat electrodes. The preliminary study revealed that the production of hydrogen in an electrolyzer is significantly affected by the distance separating the two electrodes and their shapes. Indeed, the comparative electrolysis results show that in each case the electrolyzer with cylindrical electrodes clearly prevails over its counterpart with flat electrodes for the same operating conditions and for the same quantity of water injected into the electrolysis.

Investigation of process parameters for modeling of ceramic composite SiSiC IN dry EDM (DEDM) cutting

The manufacturing industry is currently grappling with issues related to energy dissipation and product quality, both of which significantly impact productivity. In addressing this pertinent concern, this study endeavours to identify the key indicators that contribute a crucial role in machining process. The Dry EDM (DEDM) emerges as a novel technology, wherein environmentally friendly gases serve as an alternative dielectric medium instead of liquid EDM approaches. In conventional EDM process, hydrocarbon oils release toxic emissions while the gases used in Dry EDM process don’t produce harmful emissions and hence make the DEDM process sustainable.An investigation has been carried out to observe the influence of different gases like O2, N2 and Air on Siliconized Silicon-Carbide plate (SiSiC) of ø50mm*2 mm under Dry Electrical Discharge Machining. Effect of different tools is also observed using varying shapes of electrodes like plane Cu electrode of ø6 mm diameter with 60 mm length and tubular shape with outer diameter ø6mm and inner diameter ø5.1 mm with a length of 60 mm. The three gases are one by one supplied through a nozzle in the presence of plane Cu electrode to make the holes in SiSiC plate. The same process is executed with tubular Cu electrode. Modified Taguchi Orthogonal Array is applied to analyze the effect of control factors such as gap voltage, discharge current and pulse on-time through a series of experiments. Effect of different shape of tools and different gases is observed for the material removal rate (MRR) and surface roughness (SR) of specimen.In this paper, a latest DEDM process of swirl assisted flushing is proposed which provides a new technique to solve the problems of low MRR and poor surface integrity. Swirl assisted flushing works on Decay Law and also microscopic investigation justifies its validity. It is concluded by this research that current and Pulse on time are more contributing factors about 53.3 % and 27 % respectively. Furthermore, it is noted that DEDM increases MRR 19.5 % and lowers Ra approximately 2/3 than traditional machining. The MRR of O2 is about 3.1 times more than Air and N2 comes at least position while N2 creates better quality of surface due to formation of an inert nitride layer. Empirical relations are established for SR and MRR using Minitab 18 Software to develop a robust model. Confirmation test is performed to check the validity of developed mathematical model. The Novelty of this research is also extended by introducing a new method SAF. The results are finally evaluated by ANOVA.

Microfluidic fuel cell with arc-shaped electrodes to adapt to its mixing zone, a simulation study

Fuel cells are well known for their uninterrupted power supply, high energy density, and environmental friendliness. Among them there is an emerging type for portable applications called microfluidic fuel cell (MFC), which has caught attention during the last twenty years. An MFC generally employs two electrolytes, namely the anolyte containing fuel and the catholyte containing oxidant, which flow in parallel inside a microchannel. In the middle, a narrow mixing zone is formed which has a typical cross section of hourglass shape. To better utilize this specific shape, an MFC with innovative arc-shaped electrodes is proposed in this work and validated via numerical simulation. The protruding electrode surface towards the channel middle can not only better utilize the limited channel space for more reaction sites, but also reshape the mixing layer to further prevent reactant crossover. Benefited from the enhanced convective transport as well as diffusive transport, the maximum power density with electrode radius of 2 mm is improved by 18.9% at the flow rate of 1000 μL/min and 20.7% at the flow rate of 100 μL/min, compared with conventional flat electrodes. Besides, the fuel utilization at 0.8 V is also improved by 30.4% at 1000 μL/min and 32.6% at 100 μL/min. This work provides a brand-new idea of optimizing the shape of MFC electrode, which can improve MFC performance indexes of both power density and fuel utilization at the same time.

Parametric Investigation of Die-Sinking EDM of Ti6Al4V Using the Hybrid Taguchi-RAMS-RATMI Method

Ti6Al4V is a widely used alloy due to its excellent mechanical qualities and resistance to corrosion, which make it fit for automotive, aerospace, defense, and biomedical sectors. Due to its high strength and limited heat conductivity, it is difficult to machine. Both the workpiece’s and the electrode’s conductivity are important factors that impact the electro-discharge machining (EDM) process. In this case, the machining efficiency is also influenced by the electrode selection. As a result, choosing the right electrode and machining parameters is essential to improving EDM performance on the Ti6Al4V alloy. Research on EDM for Ti6Al4V is limited, with little focus on electrode material selection and shape. The impact of EDM settings on MRR, TWR, and surface roughness is complex, and a comprehensive optimization strategy is needed. Copper electrodes are widely used, but further investigation is needed on EDM’s effects on Ti6Al4V’s surface properties and surface integrity. Addressing these research gaps will improve the understanding and application of EDM for Ti6Al4V, focusing on parameter optimization, surface integrity, and thermal and mechanical effects. By employing copper tools to optimize four crucial EDM process parameters—peak current, duty cycle, discharge current, and pulse-on time—this research aims to increase surface integrity and machining performance. A comprehensive Taguchi experimental design is used to systematically alter the EDM settings. By optimizing parameters using tolerance intervals and response modelling, the recently developed RAMS-RATMI approach improves the dependability of the EDM process and increases machining efficiency. With the optimized EDM settings, there were notable gains in depth of cut enhancement, surface roughness minimization, tool wear rate (TWR) reduction, and material removal rate (MRR). The results of the surface integrity examination showed fewer heat-affected zones, fewer microcracks, and a thinner recast layer. Analysis of variance was used to verify the impact and resilience of the optimized parameters. Superior machining performance, higher surface quality, and increased operational dependability were attained with the Ti6Al4V-optimized EDM process, providing industry practitioners with insightful information and useful recommendations.

The Effect of Shape in Porous Electrodes on Cell Resistance and Chemo-Mechanical Stresses

In contrast to conventional planar electrodes, the use of electrodes with a three-dimensional (3D) shape has been shown to be an effective way to increase both the power and energy densities of a Li-ion battery. These 3D shapes allow batteries to overcome some of the capacity and rate performance trade-offs. For instance, they enable higher active-material loading, while keeping the transport pathways fixed and allowing for better material utilization. There are a variety of ways electrodes can be shaped: each electrode can be individually shaped and separated by a planar separator, or they can be completely intertwined with one another. In this talk, we consider both cases: a half cell with an electrode shape described by a sine wave and a full cell following an interdigitated design, where alternating planar fins protruding from the cathode and anode sandwich the electrolyte. First, we seek to understand how the electrode shape affects the electrical resistance of the cell based on a simple electrostatics model with a linearized Tafel expression. We identify the regimes of electronic to ionic conductivity ratios, Wagner numbers, and porosities that benefit most from electrode shaping, with a particular focus on low temperature electrolytes with reduced conductivity. Next, battery cycling is known to cause volumetric expansion and contraction of the electrodes. Therefore, we explore the chemo-mechanical stresses that arise in the same shaped electrodes with a solid electrolyte. To do so, we solve for the mechanical equilibrium for stress and deformation in the presence of an applied isotropic strain. By examining the stress concentrations at the electrode/electrolyte interface, we elucidate the likely failure mechanisms – interface delamination, crack propagation – of shaped electrodes in comparison to planar electrodes. Overall, we aim to provide design guidelines for how electrode shapes can be chosen to provide both low cell resistance and acceptable mechanical resilience.This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344. LLNL release number: LLNL-ABS-857536.

Development and printing of three-dimensional electrodes for the high body adhesion of smart wear

Herein, we investigate the effects of 3D printed electrodes on electrophysiological signals and identify the important design elements required for manufacturing better electrodes for high body adhesion for smart wear. Ten electrodes of different shapes (plain, check, stripe, circular, radial cut-out) and thicknesses (0.5 mm and 1.0 mm) were manufactured. The electrodes were evaluated by testing on 20 healthy individuals (10 men and 10 women). To measure the electroencephalogram (EEG) of the participants, we used BIOS-S8 (BioBrain Inc., Korea), an 8-channel polygraph for multibody signal measurement. Data were analyzed using the SPSS 26.0 statistical program. The EEG values were significantly activated according to gender. For the male participants, relative alpha (RA), relative slow theta (RST), relative mid theta (RMT), and the ratio of SMR-mid beta to theta (RSMT) values were highly activated and for the female participants, RA, relative fast alpha (RFA), and relative slow theta (RSA) values were highly activated. There were no significant gendifferences in the EEG of both genders for the 10 types of electrodes. However, for the female participants, the ‘RA’ indices showed a significant difference based on electrode shape on the right temporal lobe (T4), but there was no significant difference based on the thickness. There was a significant difference in the subjective preference of the electrodes also. In the subjective evaluation, it was found that the differences based on the shape and thickness of the electrodes were sensitively recognized.

Numerical Modeling of 3D Printed Structures for Lithium Metal Batteries

The development of lithium metal batteries to enable their use in commercial applications can have a significant impact on the fight against climate change due to the increase in energy density compared to state of art Li-ion batteries. However, technical challenges related to limited cyclability and non-uniformity of Li electroplating need to be addressed. This requires understanding the interplay between nucleation density, solid-electrolyte-interphase (SEI) formation, transport limitations, and unstable growth. 3D printed electrodes are of interest for electrochemical devices for their ability to tailor the electrode shape and structure to minimize system losses through enhanced ion transport and increased surface area for electrochemical reactions. 3D printed structures are constrained by the resolution of the printing method which can limit the feature size of the printed architecture. Numerical modeling of these structures can elucidate the interactions of competing physical phenomena, demonstrate tradeoffs, and estimate critical length scales and design principles that make 3D printed structures outperform traditional planar electrodes. Additionally, simulations can be used to identify failure points, complement experimental results, and deepen the understanding of fundamental questions hindering Li-metal deployment. In this presentation, we will show our recent work using continuum modeling to guide the design and evaluation of 3D printed electrodes for lithium metal batteries.This work was performed under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under Contract DE-AC52-07NA27344 and was supported by the LLNL-LDRD program under project numbers 22-ERD-043 and 23-SI-002.

Design Principles for Architected Battery Electrodes

The properties of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries are determined by the electrochemical and kinetic properties of their constituent materials as well as by their underlying microstructure. The discovery of 2D and 3D mesoscale architectures tailored to diverse applications remain an open challenge and it cannot be approached empirically. In this work, we leverage the design flexibility offered by several additive manufacturing methods (e.g. direct ink write, projection micro-stereolithography, etc.) to engineer the architecture of device electrodes. To explore this vast design space, we employ theoretical analyses and topology optimization techniques to determine printable electrode shapes. Our analyses produce general design guidelines, and three-dimensional CAD representations that optimize the battery architecture over specific performance metrics. In this talk, we show examples of electrode design driven by extreme operating conditions (e.g., low temperature) or by mechanical resilience. We also demonstrate an integrated workflow for model validation and guided experiments. For Li-metal anodes, our objective is to identify regimes of morphologically stable growth--where deleterious effects of dendrite growth might be avoided by microstructural design. For manganese-oxide cathodes, we develop physical models that capturethe pseudocapacitive response of the material and use them in inverse analyses to optimize the cathode architectures.

Experimental study of micro-prismatic electrode array wear during EDM and application to the preparation of microcylindrical electrode array

The focus of this study is to compare the wear characteristics of different types of micro-prismatic electrode array during EDM, and to propose a method for preparing microcylindrical electrode array based on micro-prismatic electrode array. Firstly, the characteristic of the micro-prismatic electrode that the front cross-section becomes circular after wear during EDM is clarified, and the wear form of the micro-prismatic electrode is analyzed. Then, the laws of the influence of electrode shape (triangle, square, hexagon), electrode material (pure copper, copper-tungsten alloy, pure tungsten), electrode size (200 μm, 300 μm, 400 μm) on the wear characteristics of the micro-prismatic electrode array, including the length of the wear of each part of the electrodes, the length of the area of the front cross-section that becomes rounded, the consistency of the wear of the electrode array, the machining efficiency, and electrode wear rate are summarized. After that, the process of changing the electrode array from square columns to cylinders using the new method is given, which confirms the feasibility of the method. Finally, the effects of peak current and pulse width on the size, machining efficiency, surface roughness, and surface micro-morphology of micro-cylindrical electrode array prepared by the new method are summarized. This study is of great significance for achieving mass production of microcylindrical electrode array.

Multi-factor coupling analysis of electric field distribution in electrochemical machining with electrolyte suction tool

Electrochemical machining (ECM) technology holds significant potential for applications in high accuracy engineering and manufacturing. To confine the electrolyte region during ECM and mitigate the effects of reaction products and heat generation, an electrolyte suction tool has been proposed. However, the complex electric field distribution on the anode surface during the application of pulse voltage, limits the further utilization of ECM with suction tool. A multi-physics simulation model is established to calculate the region of electrolyte confinement by the suction tool, current density distribution within the electrolyte region, and material removal. The model considers the combined effects of polarization and double layer, and all key parameters are calibrated through classical electrochemical testing experiments rather than fitted based on the predicted results. This study elucidates the transient response of current density on the anode surface during the application of pulse voltage. The simulation accuracy is validated by comparing experimental and simulated current waveforms, as well as material removal profiles under different pulse parameters and electrode shapes. This research is of great significance for improving surface precision and controllability of complex structures in ECM with suction tool, promoting its further application in the field of precision machining.

Study on the Anti-Interference Performance of Substrate-Free PEDOT:PSS ECG Electrodes

Substrate-free electrodes are promising dry electrodes for long-term physiological electrical signal monitoring due to their ultra-thinness, conformal contact, and stable skin–electrode impedance. However, the response of substrate-free electrodes to various disturbances during electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring and the corresponding optimization needs to be investigated. This paper investigates the specific effects of various influencing factors on skin–electrode impedance and ECG during electrocardiogram (ECG) detection. The research utilizes substrate-free poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(styrene-sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) electrodes. The investigation employs several methods, including skin–electrode impedance comparison, ECG waveform analysis, spectrum analysis, and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) evaluation. To avoid the impact of physiological state differences in subjects at different times, relevant data were only compared with the same group of experiments conducted in the same period. The results demonstrate that the substrate-free conformal contact PEDOT:PSS electrode has more stable skin–electrode impedance and could obtain a more stable ECG than partial contact electrodes (the SNR of the partial contact and conformal contact electrodes are 1.2768 ± 4.0299 dB and 7.2637 ± 1.4897 dB, respectively). Furthermore, the ECG signal quality of the substrate-free conformal contact PEDOT:PSS electrode was independent of the electrode area and shape (the SNRs of the large, medium, and small electrodes are 4.0447 ± 0.4616 dB, 3.9115 ± 0.5885 dB, and 4.1556 ± 0.5557 dB, respectively; the SNRs of the circular, square, and triangular electrodes are 9.2649 ± 0.6326 dB, 9.2471 ± 0.6806 dB, and 9.1514 ± 0.6875 dB, respectively), showing high signal acquisition capability that is the same as microneedle electrodes and better than fabric electrodes. The results of clothing friction effects show that skin–electrode impedance stability was important for ECG stability, while the impedance value was not (the SNRs of friction and non-friction electrodes are 2.4128 ± 7.0784 dB and 9.2164 ± 0.6696 dB, respectively). Moreover, the skin–electrode impedance maintains stability even at a high breathing frequency, but the ECG signal fluctuates at a high breathing frequency. This experiment demonstrates that even when the skin–electrode impedance remains stable, the ECG signal can still be susceptible to interference from other factors. This study suggests that substrate-free PEDOT:PSS that could form conformal contact with the skin has higher skin–electrode impedance stability and could measure a high ECG signal even with a small electrode area, demonstrating its potential as dry ECG electrodes, but the interference from other physiological electrical signals may require better circuit design.

Experimental and numerical simulation research on shock wave rock-breaking by high voltage electric pulse

High-voltage electric pulse(HVEP) drilling technology has the advantages of high rock-breaking efficiency, green and non-polluting. Aiming at the importance of HVEP drilling technology in generating plasma channels, plasma shock waves, and rock-breaking pits, this paper carries out multi-physics field numerical simulations and indoor electric pulse breakdown experiments. This paper first constructs a two-dimensional numerical model of rock electric breakdown. The simulation of HVEP rock breaking, plasma channel and plasma shock wave is realized from the five-field coupling and combined with the wave control equations. The effects of different electrode shapes on the plasma channel, breakdown channel and shock wave are analyzed. Then, this paper designed an indoor HVEP rock-breaking experiment to investigate the influence of different electrode shapes on rock breakdown and plasma shock waves. The simulation and experimental results show that the indoor electric pulse breakdown experiment results are consistent with the simulation results; The plasma channels are formed by the ‘electrical damage’ through each other, and the secondary plasma channel is often generated inside the rock. The generation of the secondary plasma channel means that the rock fragmentation depth and the fragmentation area will be increased; The larger the contact area of the electrode bit with the rock, the larger the radius (volume) of the plasma channel and the smaller the amplitude of the plasma shock wave; The quadrangular electrode bits have the best rock-breaking effect and are recommended; The conical electrode bit has the most excellent dispersion in the statistical analysis of the electric pulse rock-breaking effect, and the stability of the rock-breaking effect is poor, so it is recommended to use it together with the composite drill bit; The cylindrical electrode bit has the best aggregation degree of electric pulse rock-breaking and the most stable rock-breaking effect.

Cathode shape dependence of gas ionization chamber on electron collection in ΔE − E telescope ERDA

Our ΔE − E telescope elastic recoil detection analysis (ERDA) system employed a gas ionization chamber (GIC), which consisted of a U-shaped cathode, Frisch grid, and anode. The cathode shape was designed to downsize the electrodes. The difference of performance between the U-shaped and planar shaped cathodes, however, has not been studied well, yet. Therefore, we quantitatively evaluated the influence using the U-shaped cathode on ΔE − E telescope ERDA. The performances of U-shaped and planar shaped cathodes were compared from the viewpoint of a recoil counting loss due to the stagnation inducing a recombination of ion–electron pairs, and the electron uptake by the Frisch grid. No significant difference occurs between the two cathodes from the viewpoint of O recoil yields. The inhomogeneous electric field formed by the U-shaped cathode, however, induced the electron collection suppression, which leads to an attenuation of ΔE pulse heights. In our ERDA condition, the lateral straggling of recoils is suppressed due to their high energy, so that the attenuation of ΔE pulse heights is not severe and does not impair the reliability of ΔE − E telescope ERDA. These results show that the U-shaped cathode can also be used safely for ΔE − E telescope ERDA, and that GICs have a flexibility in the electrode shape, which is useful to make GICs more compact.

Thixotropic Composite Hydrogel Electrode Composed of a Polymer Hydrogelator and Water-Dispersive Tungsten Oxide Flat Microparticles.

Here, we introduce an organic/inorganic composite hydrogel as a versatile gel electrode material. This composite hydrogel was formed by simply mixing an aqueous solution of flat microparticles of tungsten oxide, exhibiting superior water dispersibility, with a hydrogel composed of a water-soluble polyaramide-based polymer hydrogelator. The resulting composite hydrogel exhibited uniform dispersion of tungsten oxide flat particles throughout the hydrogel matrix, supplementing the structure formed by the polymer hydrogelator. It maintained the gel-forming capability and thixotropic behavior inherent to the polymer hydrogelator while showcasing the electrochemical characteristics of tungsten oxide. With its spreadability and applicability to various electrode shapes, a composite hydrogel is presented as a potential spreadable gel electrode material.

Topology optimization of the electrodes in dielectrophoresis-based devices

This paper aims for developing topology optimization methodology to design the shape of electrodes in Dielectrophoresis (DEP)-based devices. The DEP force is due to a non-uniform electric field induced by applied voltages to the electrodes. Shape of the electrodes has the principal effect on the direction and magnitude of the DEP force. In medical therapy microfluidic devices, DEP force is used for cell sorting and cell separation. While the direction and magnitude of the DEP force are desired to be determined and maximized respectively, the magnitude of the electric field should be minimized to avoid damaging cells. Approaching these goals is counter intuitive where the existing electrode designs are basic. Therefore, a detailed finite element model (FEM) is developed for DEP force and electric field to formulate an optimization problem to maximize the DEP force in a particular direction while there is a constraint on electric field's magnitude. Using the developed FEM, explicit formulations for sensitivity analysis are derived to implement a gradient-based topology optimization. The performance of developed methodology is assessed numerically to determine the direction of the DEP force and constraining the electric field and experimentally in a practical case study of particle trapping in a microfluidic channel.