Nanomechanical Sensing for Mass Flow Control in Nanowire-Based Open Nanofluidic Systems

Area of Science:

• Nanotechnology
• Fluid Dynamics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Open nanofluidic systems offer unique capabilities for miniaturized liquid handling.
• Quantitative mass flow control is essential for realizing the full potential of these systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate nanomechanical sensing for quantitative mass flow control in open nanofluidic systems.
• To characterize voltage-driven liquid flow along nanowire open channels.

Main Methods:

• Integration of voltage-driven liquid flow along nanowires with mass detection using flexural resonators.
• Validation using microcantilever resonators for larger flows and nanowires as resonators for small volumes.
• Characterization of ionic liquid flow dynamics under varying voltage conditions.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated mass flow control from sub-attogram/s to femtogram/s.
• Achieved precise liquid handling at the zeptoliter scale.
• Identified a voltage-induced transition from static wetting to dynamic spreading governing liquid transport.

Conclusions:

• Nanomechanical sensing provides a viable method for quantitative mass flow control in open nanofluidics.
• The study establishes a steady flow regime enabling precise control of ionic liquid transport.
• Understanding the wetting-to-spreading transition is key to optimizing nanofluidic liquid handling.