title: Confined synthesis and integration of functional materials in sub-nanoliter volumes.
abstract: We present a novel microchip-based approach to combine the synthesis, characterization, and utilization of different functional materials on a single platform. A two-layer microfluidic device comprising 10 parallel actuated reaction chambers with volumes of a few hundred picoliters is used to localize and confine the synthesis, while the surfaces of the reaction chambers comprise an electrode array for direct integration and further characterization of the created crystalline assemblies without the need for further manipulation or positioning devices. First we visualized and evaluated the dynamics of our method by monitoring the formation of a fluorescent metal-organic complex (Zn(bix)). Next, we induced the site-specific growth of two types of organic conductive crystals, AuTTF and AgTCNQ, directly onto the electrode arrays in one- and two-step reactions, respectively. The performance of the created AgTCNQ crystals as memory elements was thoroughly examined. Moreover, we proved for first time that AuTTF composites can be used as label-free sensing elements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Benjamin Z
authors.initials: BZ
authors.lastname: Cvetković
authors.forename: Josep
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Puigmartí-Luis
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schaffhauser
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ryll
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.forename: Petra S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Dittrich
mesh_terms: D003217:Conductometry / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003460:Crystallization / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D008832:Microchemistry / Q000379:methods*; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D008846:Micromanipulation / Q000379:methods*; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000295:instrumentation; D010316:Particle Size; D018511:Systems Integration