Active Flow Channel Matrix using Electro-conjugate Fluid for μTAS Application

Abstract

We propose a novel droplet transporting method for Micro Total Analysis System (μTAS), which we call an active flow channel matrix, using an electro-conjugate fluid (ECF). The ECF is a kind of dielectric and functional fluid, which generates a powerful flow (ECF flow) when subjected to high DC voltage. We introduced the ECF in this study to a droplet transporting system on a chip, that is, we developed a 2×2 channel matrix, which is filled with the ECE, and put tiny electrode pairs in each channel in order to induce channel flow. With the proposed active flow channel matrix, a water droplet put into the channel may move in any direction according to the channel flow generated by the ECF flow. According to this concept, we developed a prototype of the active flow channel matrix, and confirmed our concept by experiments. A 0.5 ml blue-colored water droplet could move along the channel by the ECF flow in either direction with velocity of up to 6.30 mm/s. Namely we may possibly transport the water droplet to any positions along the channels.