New replication technique for the fabrication of thin polymeric microfluidic devices with tunable porosity.
In this article we present a new versatile replication method to produce thin polymeric microfluidic devices with tunable porosity. This method is based on phase separation of a polymer solution on a microstructured mold. Compared to existing microfabrication techniques, such as etching and hot embossing, our technique offers four advantages: (a) simple and cheap process that can be performed at room temperature outside clean room facilities; (b) very broad range of applicable materials (including materials that could not be processed before); (c) ability to make thin flexible chips; (d) ability to introduce and tune porosity in the chip. By introducing porosity, the channel walls can be used for selective transport of gasses, liquids and solutes. A proof-of-concept will be given, by showing fast CO2 transport through the channel walls of a porous polymer chip. Furthermore, it will be demonstrated that the gas permeation performance of chips can be enhanced dramatically by a decrease in chip thickness and incorporation of porosity. We expect that the development of porous chips can lead to the on-chip integration of multiple unit operations, such as reaction, separation, gas liquid contacting and membrane emulsification.
de Jong
J
J
University of Twente, Faculty of Science and Technology, Membrane Technology Group, P.O. Box 217, NL-7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands.
Ankoné
B
B
Lammertink
R G H
RG
Wessling
M
M
D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000378:metabolism; D005374:Filtration; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D016062:Porosity; D013696:Temperature
D011108:Polymers; D002245:Carbon Dioxide