Configurable 3D-Printed millifluidic and microfluidic 'lab on a chip' reactionware devices

Area of Science:

• Chemical Engineering
• Materials Science
• Organic Chemistry

Background:

• Traditional chemical synthesis often requires specialized glassware and lengthy setup times.
• Microfluidic devices offer advantages in reaction control and efficiency but can be costly and time-consuming to produce.
• There is a need for accessible, rapid fabrication methods for custom microfluidic reactors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and demonstrate the use of 3D-printed microfluidic devices for chemical synthesis.
• To showcase the versatility of these devices across different chemical disciplines.
• To highlight the cost-effectiveness and speed of 3D printing for creating custom reactionware.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing 3D design and 3D printing techniques to fabricate miniaturized fluidic devices.
• Employing inexpensive materials for reactor construction.
• Assembling various reactor configurations, including multi-inlet and integrated reactant silo designs.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated reliable and robust microfluidic reactors in a few hours.
• Demonstrated efficient synthesis of organic compounds (reductive amination, alkylation).
• Successfully synthesized inorganic (polyoxometalate) and materials (gold nanoparticle) products using the printed devices.

Conclusions:

• 3D printing offers a rapid, cost-effective method for producing versatile microfluidic reactionware.
• The fabricated devices are suitable for a wide range of chemical syntheses, including organic, inorganic, and materials chemistry.
• This approach facilitates the on-demand creation of customized reactors for various applications.