Rail configuration for lateral particle transport across intact co-flows: effect of wall and rail geometry on liquid and particle transport. Issue 6 (23rd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ziemecka, Iwona; de Hemptinne, Amaury; Misko, Vyacheslav R.; Briet, Matthieu; Gelin, Pierre; Maes, Dominique; De Malsche, Wim
• Is Part Of: Soft matter. Volume 19:Issue 6(2023)
• Page Start: 1231
• Page End: 1240
• Publication Date: 2023-01-23
• Subjects: Soft condensed matter -- Periodicals; 530.413
• DOI: 10.1039/d2sm01346k
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1744-683X

Abstract

Abstract : Layer-by-Layer coating technology implies exposure of particles to various reagents. A rail at the bottom of a microfluidic channel enables passive particle transport, and internal walls allow to avoid the undesirable effect of reagent stream mixing. Abstract : Layer-by-Layer coating technology is of great importance for many applications of microparticles whereby exposure of the particles to various reagents is needed. Mutual contamination of the reagents during this process is a key challenge, and this undesired effect should be avoided. Here we introduce a device that provides subsequent exposure of particles to various liquids and minimizes mixing of the liquids at the same time. The key element of the device is a rail (groove) at the bottom of a microfluidic channel. The rail forms an angle (between 0 and 90 degrees) and thus enables passive transport of particles through the intact co-flows of the different fluids. To avoid the undesirable effect of reagent stream mixing, internal walls are introduced to separate the different flows. Various designs of the proposed device are considered, and their performance is experimentally analyzed.