Liquid crystal thermography of an on-chip polymerase chain reaction micro-thermocycler

Tracy Helen Fung, Shih Hui Chao, Joseph E. Peach, Deirdre R. Meldrum

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Microscale liquid crystal thermography is a technique to measure temperature distribution of microfabricated devices in real-time. This method utilizes a microscope to image the color map of a layer of temperature-sensitive encapsulated thermochromic liquid crystals (TLC) coated on a microfabricated device. This paper describes the TLC coating process on microscale devices, the characteristics of colorimetric hysteresis, and the calibration of temperature measurements. The calibrated measurements have been applied for characterization of an on-chip polymerase chain reaction (PCR) microscale thermocycler where precise and dynamic temperature control is essential for efficient DNA amplification. Tests on the micro-thermocycler were done around the ranges centered at 30°C and 95°C. The results illustrate the effects on the temperature distribution due to micro-thermocycler geometry, and provide important insight for micro-thermocycler design.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationProceedings of the 4th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels and Minichannels, ICNMM2006
PublisherAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers
Pages1039-1044
Number of pages6
ISBN (Print)0791847608, 9780791847602
DOIs
StatePublished - 2006
Externally publishedYes
Event4th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels and Minichannels, ICNMM2006 - Limerick, Ireland
Duration: Jun 19 2006Jun 21 2006

Publication series

NameProceedings of the 4th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels and Minichannels, ICNMM2006
Volume2006 B

Other

Other4th International Conference on Nanochannels, Microchannels and Minichannels, ICNMM2006
Country/TerritoryIreland
CityLimerick
Period6/19/066/21/06

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Engineering

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