Surface tension-controlled three-dimensional water molds: Theory and applications

Chandra M. Goff, Shih-Hui Chao, Roger H. Johnson, Deirdre Meldrum

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper presents a lab-on-a-chip development method that applies the Young-Laplace equation to design the geometries of a patterned water droplet, and then using the droplet as a mold to fabricate three-dimensional polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) channels. We demonstrate the method by designing and fabricating an on-chip funnel. We then subsequently trap beads of graded diameter in the tapered section of the funnel to make on-chip filters of controllable pore size. After packing the funnel with beads, the cutoff pore size of the fabricated filter agrees closely with our estimate. This approach provides a straight-forward, low-cost, yet powerful way to design and fabricate microfluidic devices with 3D features.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)891-897
Number of pages7
JournalMicrofluidics and Nanofluidics
Volume13
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics
  • Materials Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Surface tension-controlled three-dimensional water molds: Theory and applications'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this