Digital optofluidics: LED-gated transport and fusion of microliter-sized organic droplets for chemical synthesis.
Microdroplet-based organic syntheses have been developed as a valuable alternative to traditional bulk-based methods. However, unlike their water counterparts, organic microdroplets can prove challenging to manipulate. Here, we describe the first optical manipulation of discrete, nanoliter- to microliter-sized apolar droplets floating on a liquid surface to induce on-demand droplet fusion for organic synthesis. We demonstrate droplet transport on centimeter-scale distances at speeds of 0.1 to 1 mm·s(-1) with well-programmable, sequential or parallel, fusion events. Because our strategy is compatible with most usual hydrocarbon solvents, such droplets can be used as microcompartments for reagents. Organic reactions readily occur upon droplet fusion, as demonstrated with an ene reaction. With an LED as the sole power source, and without any fabrication step, optical setup, pump or electrode implementation, our method provides a robust and versatile way to place digital organic chemistry under optical control.
Ecole Normale Supérieure-PSL Research University , Department of Chemistry, 24 rue Lhomond, F-75005 Paris, France.
Anna
A
Venancio-Marques
Damien
D
Baigl