Field Induced Microparticle Structure Formation In Fluids

We review how magnetic and electric fields can be used to create microparticle structures within fluids such as water, oil, polymers, or ferrofluids. The particular arrangement of the electrodes will strongly influence the morphology of the clusters or networks formed, as will also rotating or oscillating fields do. The structure and dynamics of such pattern formation will be described for various types of particles, such as colloidal microspheres, carbon nanoparticles, and metal particles.