Flexible microfluidic devices with three-dimensional interconnected microporous walls for gas and liquid applications

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Microfluidic devices offer precise control over small fluid volumes.
• Fabrication of complex microfluidic structures often requires specialized equipment and time-intensive processes.
• Flexible microfluidic devices are desirable for portable and adaptable applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a simple, low-cost, and rapid fabrication method for flexible polystyrene microfluidic devices.
• To demonstrate the application of these devices in gas generation and absorption reactions.
• To showcase the versatility of the fabricated devices through selective surface treatment.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of flexible polystyrene microfluidic devices using a solvent/non-solvent mixture at room temperature.
• Demonstration of gas generation and absorption using carbon dioxide (CO(2)) for water acidification.
• Selective treatment of microporous structures with oxygen plasma to enable acetic acid perfusion.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of flexible microfluidic devices with 3D interconnected microporous walls in under an hour.
• Demonstration of CO(2) gas absorption and generation within the microfluidic device.
• Proof-of-concept for selective control of chemical reactions (acidification) using plasma-treated microporous structures.

Conclusions:

• The developed method provides an accessible and efficient route to fabricating functional flexible microfluidic devices.
• The devices are suitable for demonstrating gas-phase chemical reactions and can be adapted for other applications through surface modification.
• This approach lowers the barrier for microfluidic device utilization in research and education settings.