Laser fabrication of modular superhydrophobic chips for reconfigurable assembly and self-propelled droplet manipulation

Huan Wang; Yong-Lai Zhang; Dong-Dong Han; Wei Wang; Hong-Bo Sun

doi:10.1186/s43074-021-00033-1

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Huan Wang, Yong-Lai Zhang, Dong-Dong Han, Wei Wang, Hong-Bo Sun. Laser fabrication of modular superhydrophobic chips for reconfigurable assembly and self-propelled droplet manipulation[J]. PhotoniX. doi: 10.1186/s43074-021-00033-1

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Laser fabrication of modular superhydrophobic chips for reconfigurable assembly and self-propelled droplet manipulation

doi: 10.1186/s43074-021-00033-1

1.
State Key Laboratory of Integrated Optoelectronics, College of Electronic Science and Engineering, Jilin University, 2699 Qianjin Street, Changchun, 130012, China
2.
Hooke Instruments, Changchun Institute of Optics, Fine Mechanics and Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130033, China
3.
State Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement Technology and Instruments, Department of Precision Instrument, Tsinghua University, Haidian, Beijing, 100084, China

Funds:

National Natural Science Foundation of China (61935008, 61522503, 61590930, 61775078, and 61605055).

National Key Research and Development Program of China (2017YFB1104300)

Received Date: 2021-04-09
Accepted Date: 2021-06-01

Available Online: 2021-08-11

Abstract

Abstract

Natural creatures that enables controllable liquid transport provides the inspiration for developing novel microfluidic devices by engineering functional surfaces with superwettability. However, towards microfluidic applications, the strict requirements of sophisticated droplet manipulation make it challenging to reach this end. In this work, we report a conceptually new self-propelled droplet manipulation strategy based on reconfigurable superhydrophobic chips. The modular droplet chip (MDC) is developed by laser embossing a series of superhydrophobic structures on elastomer jigsaws that act as functional units. MDC is potable since only gravity is used as the driving force for dynamic manipulation of liquid droplets, including droplets transporting, splitting, merging and bouncing without mass loss. The MDC demonstrated reasonable anti-cross-contamination property due to the water repellence of the superhydrophobicity. Modular assembly of MDC enables different chip functions including solution dilution, SERS detection, cell labeling and chemical synthesis. As a miniature and portable experimental platform, the MDC is promising for next-generation lab-on-a-chip systems.
- Superhydrophobic surface,
- Laser processing,
- Droplet chip,
- Droplet manipulation,
- On-chip analysis

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References(38)

References

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