Journal ArticleDOI
Electrowetting-based actuation of droplets for integrated microfluidics
TLDR
In this paper, an alternative approach to microfluidics based upon the micromanipulation of discrete droplets of aqueous electrolyte by electrowetting is reported.Abstract:
The serviceability of microfluidics-based instrumentation including ‘lab-on-a-chip’ systems critically depends on control of fluid motion. We are reporting here an alternative approach to microfluidics based upon the micromanipulation of discrete droplets of aqueous electrolyte by electrowetting. Using a simple open structure, consisting of two sets of opposing planar electrodes fabricated on glass substrates, positional and formational control of microdroplets ranging in size from several nanoliters to several microliters has been demonstrated at voltages between 15–100 V. Since there are no permanent channels or structures between the plates, the system is highly flexible and reconfigurable. Droplet transport is rapid and efficient with average velocities exceeding 10 cm s−1 having been observed. The dependence of the velocity on voltage is roughly independent of the droplet size within certain limits, thus the smallest droplets studied (∼3
nl) could be transported over 1000 times their length per second. Formation, mixing, and splitting of microdroplets was also demonstrated using the same microactuator structures. Thus, electrowetting provides a means to achieve high levels of functional integration and flexibility for microfluidic systems.read more
Citations
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Journal ArticleDOI
Microfluidics: Fluid physics at the nanoliter scale
Todd M. Squires,Stephen R. Quake +1 more
TL;DR: A review of the physics of small volumes (nanoliters) of fluids is presented, as parametrized by a series of dimensionless numbers expressing the relative importance of various physical phenomena as mentioned in this paper.
Journal ArticleDOI
Electrowetting: from basics to applications
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compare the various approaches used to derive the basic electrowetting equation, which has been shown to be very reliable as long as the applied voltage is not too high.
Journal ArticleDOI
Reactions in Droplets in Microfluidic Channels
TL;DR: Fundamental and applied research in chemistry and biology benefits from opportunities provided by droplet-based microfluidic systems, which enable the miniaturization of reactions by compartmentalizing reactions in droplets of femoliter to microliter volumes.
Journal ArticleDOI
Microfluidic lab-on-a-chip platforms: requirements, characteristics and applications
TL;DR: This critical review summarizes developments in microfluidic platforms that enable the miniaturization, integration, automation and parallelization of (bio-)chemical assays and attempts to provide a selection scheme based on key requirements of different applications and market segments.
Journal ArticleDOI
Creating, transporting, cutting, and merging liquid droplets by electrowetting-based actuation for digital microfluidic circuits
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors report the completion of four fundamental fluidic operations considered essential to build digital microfluidic circuits, which can be used for lab-on-a-chip or micro total analysis system (/spl mu/TAS): 1) creating, 2) transporting, 3) cutting, and 4) merging liquid droplets, all by electrowetting.
References
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Journal ArticleDOI
Electrowetting-based actuation of liquid droplets for microfluidic applications
TL;DR: In this article, a microactuator for rapid manipulation of discrete microdroplets is presented, which is accomplished by direct electrical control of the surface tension through two sets of opposing planar electrodes fabricated on glass.
Journal ArticleDOI
Reversible electrowetting and trapping of charge : model and experiments
Hjj Verheijen,Mwj Menno Prins +1 more
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors derive a model for voltage-induced wetting, so-called electrowetting, from the principle of virtual displacement, including the possibility that charge is trapped in or on the wetted su...
Journal ArticleDOI
Dielectrophoretic liquid actuation and nanodroplet formation
TL;DR: In this article, the authors demonstrate a new class of high-speed DEP actuators, including wallless flowstructures, siphons, and nanodroplet dispensers that operate with water.
Journal ArticleDOI
Electrostatic actuation of liquid droplets for micro-reactor applications
TL;DR: In this paper, a device for the electrostatic actuation of liquid droplets on a solid surface is developed, where arrays of electrodes are micro-fabricated on a substrate, which is covered by a hydrophobic layer.
Journal ArticleDOI
Handling of Picoliter Liquid Samples in a Poly(dimethylsiloxane)-Based Microfluidic Device
TL;DR: In this paper, a microfluidic device with a main working area of one square millimeter was constructed by sealing a sealed container, which was used for transportation, metering, and mixing of picoliter sized liquid samples.