title: Tunable catalytic tubular micro-pumps operating at low concentrations of hydrogen peroxide.
abstract: Catalytic micropumps consisting of Ti/Cr/Pt microtubes with diameters of 5-10 μm and tunable lengths in the range of 20-1000 μm are reported. Micropumps were fabricated by rolling up metallic nanomembranes into microtubes with an inner platinum layer. When immersed into a solution of hydrogen peroxide, the micropumps are activated by the catalytic decomposition of peroxide into oxygen microbubbles and water. Fluid pumping is demonstrated by the movement of polystyrene particles with a diameter of 1 μm through the catalytic microtubes. Concentrations from 0.009 to 11% H(2)O(2) were employed to study the catalytic generation of microbubbles in micropumps with different lengths. A minimum concentration of 0.06% fuel was determined to be sufficient to actuate the micropumps. Such devices based on rolled-up nanomembranes hold great promise for the integration into Lab-on-a-chip systems for sensing, sorting of particles and drug delivery.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Integrative Nanosciences, IFW Dresden, Helmholzstr 20, D-01069 Dresden, Germany. a.solovev@ifw-dresden.de
authors.forename: Alexander A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Solovev
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sanchez
authors.forename: Yongfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Oliver G
authors.initials: OG
authors.lastname: Schmidt