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Wettability patterning for high-rate, pumpless fluid transport on open, non-planar microfluidic platforms
Aritra Ghosh1, Ranjan Ganguly, Thomas M Schutzius
1Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA. cmm@uic.edu.
Lab on a Chip
|March 14, 2014
Summary
This study introduces a novel wettability patterning method for superhydrophobic and superhydrophilic coatings, enabling precise liquid transport in open microfluidic systems for diagnostics and microscale engineering.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Microfluidics
- Surface Chemistry
Background:
- Open microfluidic systems are crucial for low-cost biomedical diagnostics.
- Controlling liquid transport on open substrates is a key challenge.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a facile wettability patterning method for open microfluidic tracks.
- To demonstrate precise liquid transport of various volumes against opposing forces.
Main Methods:
- Created superhydrophobic composite coatings (TiO2 in fluoroacrylic polymer).
- Utilized UV light and laser printer-based photo-masking for selective superhydrophilic conversion.
- Designed wedge-patterned tracks for surface tension-driven liquid movement.
Main Results:
- Achieved transport of ~1-500 μL liquid volumes on-chip, even against gravity.
- Demonstrated complex droplet handling tasks like merging, splitting, and dispensing.
- Attained fluid transport rates up to 350 μL s⁻¹.
Conclusions:
- The developed wettability patterning method enables efficient, power-free liquid transport in open microfluidic devices.
- This technique is versatile, applicable to various substrates, and suitable for biomedical diagnostics and microscale engineering applications like fuel cells.
