Broadband acoustofluidic platforms enabled by non-resonant excitation of hybrid acoustic Waves for versatile bioparticle manipulation

Zeng, Ziming 2026. Broadband acoustofluidic platforms enabled by non-resonant excitation of hybrid acoustic Waves for versatile bioparticle manipulation. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University. Item availability restricted.

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Abstract

Acoustofluidics is a microfluidic technology that utilizes acoustic waves for contactless and label free sample manipulation and has demonstrated significant potential for biomedical applications. However, conventional acoustofluidic platforms are typically limited to narrow resonant frequencies, restricting their operational flexibility and functional versatility. To address this limitation, this thesis proposes a cost-effective yet effective strategy that extends the operating frequency range of an acoustofluidic platform from a single resonant frequency to a broadband range spanning nearly one order of magnitude without modifying the original platform design. To validate the proposed strategy, a Modular and Reconfigurable Acoustofluidic Platform (MRAP) was developed from a conventional surface acoustic wave (SAW) platform. By integrating matching network circuits (MNCs), the electromechanical energy conversion efficiency of interdigital transducers (IDTs) at non-resonant frequencies was significantly enhanced, enabling effective non-resonant operation. Under these conditions, the generated acoustic waves were transformed from pure SAWs into hybrid acoustic waves (HAWs) consisting of both SAW and bulk acoustic wave (BAW) components. The generation mechanism and propagation characteristics of HAWs were investigated through finite element method (FEM) simulations and experimental validations. Furthermore, microchannel-based and droplet-based manipulation experiments demonstrated the capability of HAWs for particle and cell manipulation. Building upon these findings, a Single-Cell Acoustic Lab-on-Array (SCALA) platform was further proposed for multifunctional parallel operations. The SCALA platform employed both modular design and MNC-assisted frequency extension. Experimental investigations and FEM analyses further revealed the operational limitations of the platform and provided potential strategies for future improvements.

Item Type:	Thesis (PhD)
Date Type:	Completion
Status:	Unpublished
Schools:	Schools > Engineering
Uncontrolled Keywords:	1. Acoustofluidics 2. Microfluidics 3. Hybrid Acoustic Waves 4. Interdigital Transducers 5. Biomedical Engineering 6. Lab-on-Chip
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	4 August 2026
Last Modified:	04 Aug 2026 14:19
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/188661

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