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Wicking in Paper-Based Devices with Engineered Surface Grooves
Bhargav Rallabandi1, Sidharth Modha2, Brent Kalish1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States.
Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids
|December 17, 2025
Summary
Engineered grooves enhance fluid wicking in paper microfluidic devices by creating low-resistance pathways. A new model predicts fluid imbibition, considering groove wettability and gravity, and identifies optimal groove dimensions for improved performance.
Area of Science:
- Fluid dynamics
- Microfluidics
- Materials science
Background:
- Paper-based microfluidic devices are widely used for diagnostics.
- Fluid wicking in these devices is crucial for their function.
- Macroscopic grooves can enhance fluid transport but require quantitative modeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a quantitative model for fluid wicking in paper microfluidic devices with engineered grooves.
- To understand the interplay between groove geometry, wettability, and gravity on wicking enhancement.
- To generalize the Lucas-Washburn law for grooved paper wicks.
Main Methods:
- Developed a quantitative model resolving coupled flow in paper matrix and grooves.
- Analytical prediction of imbibed length as a function of time.
- Comparison of model predictions with experimental data for upward wicking.
Main Results:
- Grooves enhance wicking by providing low-resistance flow paths.
- Wicking enhancement is significantly influenced by groove wettability and gravity.
- The generalized Lucas-Washburn law accurately predicts imbibed length.
- Identified optimal groove widths, as wider grooves can impede flow.
Conclusions:
- The developed model quantitatively predicts wicking in grooved paper.
- Groove wettability and gravity are critical factors in wicking enhancement.
- The study provides insights for optimizing paper-based microfluidic device design.
