title: Application of bucky gel in fabrication of a low-voltage rapid microvalve for flow regulation.
abstract: Bucky gel is a gelatinous mixture of carbon nanotubes and an ionic liquid. This mixture was employed in fabrication of a low-voltage, rapid, and dry electroactive bimorph actuator: Bucky Gel Actuator (BGA). Feasibility studies were carried out on BGA to evaluate its potential application as a new interface for flow regulation in microfluidics. Following the promising results, a flow regulator was designed and fabricated utilizing BGA as a microvalve. Flow rate measurements showed the capability of BGA microvalve in controlling the output flow rate in the range of 0.1-1 mL/min. BGA microvalve demonstrated great potential to be used for flow regulation in microfluidic devices for point-of-care devices and biomedical applications.
authors.affiliation: Next Generation Composite CREST Center (NextGenC3), Department of Mechanical Engineering, Southern University and A & M College, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70813, USA. ali.k.ghamsari@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ali K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Ghamsari
authors.forename: Ephraim
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zegeye
authors.forename: Yoonyoung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Eyassu
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Woldesenbet