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Updated: Apr 4, 2026
08:29
Thermal Measurement Techniques in Analytical Microfluidic Devices
Published on: June 3, 2015
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Flow Type Bio-Chemical Calorimeter with Micro Differential Thermopile Sensor
Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology
|September 11, 2015
Summary
This study introduces a flow-type bio-calorimeter using Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems sensors for rapid, sensitive detection of biochemical heat. The developed flow calorimeter offers a significantly reduced settling time compared to batch types.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Sensor Technology
- Microfluidics
Background:
- Bio-chemical calorimeters monitor reactions using thermal measurements.
- Batch-type calorimeters offer high sensitivity but suffer from long settling times.
- Flow-type calorimeters are explored for faster analysis of thermal reactions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a highly sensitive flow-type bio-calorimeter.
- To improve temporal resolution and reduce settling time for biochemical reaction monitoring.
- To investigate both passive and active modes of flow calorimetry.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MEMS) differential thermopile sensor.
- Designed a flow-type calorimeter with microchannel reactors in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheet.
- Tested passive mode with dilution reactions (ethanol/water, NaCl/water) and active mode with heat removal via water flow.
Main Results:
- The passive flow calorimeter detected exothermic and endothermic reactions >250 nW with a ~4-minute settling time at 0.05–1 µl/min flow rates.
- Active calorimetry demonstrated a 3-4 times faster response time compared to passive mode.
- Achieved high sensitivity for monitoring minute biochemical reactions.
Conclusions:
- Flow-type bio-calorimeters offer a significant improvement in response time and settling time over batch types.
- Both passive and active modes are effective for real-time thermal monitoring of biochemical processes.
- MEMS-based flow calorimeters are promising for high-temporal-resolution analysis of small sample volumes.
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