title: Note: A microfluidic freezer based on evaporative cooling of atomized aqueous microdroplets.
abstract: We report for the first time water-based evaporative cooling integrated into a microfluidic chip for temperature control and freezing of biological solution. We opt for water as a nontoxic, effective refrigerant. Aqueous solutions are atomized in our device and evaporation of microdroplets under vacuum removes heat effectively. We achieve rapid cooling (-5.1 °C/s) and a low freezing temperature (-14.1 °C). Using this approach, we demonstrate freezing of deionized water and protein solution. Our simple, yet effective cooling device may improve many microfluidic applications currently relying on external power-hungry instruments for cooling and freezing.
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Myongji University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 449-728, South Korea.
authors: Jin
authors: J
authors: Song
authors: Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Mapo-gu, Seoul 121-791, South Korea.
authors: Minsub
authors: M
authors: Chung
authors: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Myongji University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 449-728, South Korea.
authors: Dohyun
authors: D
authors: Kim