On-Chip Chemical Synthesis Using One-Step 3D Printed Polyperfluoropolyether.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Microfluidics

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) printing offers advantages in microfluidic device fabrication, including precision and material versatility.
• Transparent fluoropolymers are desirable for microfluidics due to their chemical and thermal stability.
• Developing new 3D-printable materials is crucial for expanding microfluidic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a simple, one-step stereolithography fabrication process for microfluidic devices.
• To evaluate the properties of 3D-printed perfluoropolyether dimethacrylate for microfluidic applications.
• To demonstrate the utility of these devices in chemistry-on-chip synthesis.

Main Methods:

• Stereolithography (3D printing) was employed for fabrication.
• Perfluoropolyether dimethacrylate was used as the printing material.
• Microfluidic mixers with 800 µm circular channels were designed and printed.

Main Results:

• Successfully fabricated microfluidic mixers with high precision.
• Demonstrated excellent chemical, mechanical, and thermal resistance (up to 200°C).
• Achieved high optical transparency in the printed devices.
• Successfully performed both aqueous and organic reactions on-chip.

Conclusions:

• Perfluoropolyether dimethacrylate is a promising material for 3D printing microfluidic devices.
• The developed fabrication process is suitable for creating robust microfluidic chips.
• These 3D-printed devices have broad potential for chemical synthesis and other chemistry-on-chip applications.