Multifunctional reversibly sealable microfluidic devices for patterned material deposition approaches. Issue 16 (21st January 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Gang, A.; Haustein, N.; Baraban, L.; Cuniberti, G.
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 5:Issue 16(2015)
• Page Start: 11806
• Page End: 11811
• Publication Date: 2015-01-21
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/c4ra15785k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : We present reversibly sealable microfluidic devices with versatile channel designs, withstanding pressures up to 600 kPa, which can be applied for direct printing of electronic interconnects on flexible surfaces as well as micropatterning the UV curable materials. Abstract : We present a concept to produce reversibly sealable polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) based microfluidic devices with versatile channel designs, withstanding pressures up to 600 kPa. A novel fabrication strategy, namely the casting of a secondary PDMS casing around the initial channel system allows diverting the tubing attached to the channels sideways so that a simple mounting assembly can be used to press the fluidic chip onto virtually any type of substrate. We demonstrate the functionalities of the developed setup at a proof-of-concept level by direct printing of electronic interconnects onto flexible substrates in a single step. As a second application, we generate uniquely shaped polymer structures when combining the presented technique with droplet microfluidics using a UV-curable adhesive and water as continuous and dispersed phases, respectively. We believe the developed approach has a plethora of applications and a clear perspective of being used for cost-efficient and multifunctional designs of novel classes of materials and devices in diverse areas from electronics to biotechnology.