title: Monolithic integration of fine cylindrical glass microcapillaries on silicon for electrophoretic separation of biomolecules.
abstract: We demonstrate monolithic integration of fine cylindrical glass microcapillaries (diameter ∼1 μm) on silicon and evaluate their performance for electrophoretic separation of biomolecules. Such microcapillaries are achieved through thermal reflow of a glass layer on microstructured silicon whereby slender voids are moulded into cylindrical tubes. The process allows self-enclosed microcapillaries with a uniform profile. A simplified method is also described to integrate the microcapillaries with a sample-injection cross without the requirement of glass etching. The 10-mm-long microcapillaries sustain field intensities up to 90 kV/m and limit the temperature excursions due to Joule heating to a few degrees Celsius only.
authors.affiliation: Department of Electronic and Computer Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Kangning
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Hongkai
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yobas