Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 18, 2026
13:42
Dry Film Photoresist-based Electrochemical Microfluidic Biosensor Platform: Device Fabrication, On-chip Assay Preparation, and System Operation
Published on: September 19, 2017
Electrical cross-correlation spectroscopy: measuring picoliter-per-minute flows in nanochannels
Klaus Mathwig1, Dileep Mampallil, Shuo Kang
1MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
Physical Review Letters
|September 26, 2012
Summary
We developed an all-electrical method to measure molecular fluctuations in nanofluidic channels. This technique detects ultralow liquid flow rates, similar to fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy.
Area of Science:
- Nanofluidics
- Physical Chemistry
- Analytical Chemistry
Background:
- Measuring molecular number fluctuations is crucial for understanding transport phenomena in micro and nanofluidic systems.
- Existing methods like fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) require fluorescent labeling and optical setups.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel, all-electrical method for cross-correlation spectroscopy of molecular number fluctuations.
- To enable the detection of ultralow liquid flow rates in nanofluidic channels without fluorescent labeling.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing a pair of downstream nanogap electrochemical transducers in a nanofluidic channel.
- Performing time-of-flight measurements by cross-correlating current-time traces from the two transducers.
- Analyzing mesoscopic fluctuations in local molecular density transported through the channel.
Main Results:
- Successfully detected molecular number fluctuations using electrical signals.
- Achieved detection of ultralow liquid flow rates below 10 pL/min.
- Demonstrated the electrical equivalent of fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy.
Conclusions:
- The all-electrical cross-correlation spectroscopy is a viable and sensitive method for analyzing nanofluidic transport.
- This technique offers an alternative to optical methods, simplifying experimental setups.
- The method holds promise for applications requiring precise measurement of low flow rates.
