Journal article
Affordable Fabrication of Conductive Electrodes and Dielectric Films for a Paper-based Digital Microfluidic Chip
Sogang University1
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art2
Embedded Systems Engineering, Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark3
Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark4
Copenhagen Center for Health Technology, Centers, Technical University of Denmark5
In order to fabricate a digital microfluidic (DMF) chip, which requires a patterned array of electrodes coated with a dielectric film, we explored two simple methods: Ballpoint pen printing to generate the electrodes, and wrapping of a dielectric plastic film to coat the electrodes. For precise and programmable printing of the patterned electrodes, we used a digital plotter with a ballpoint pen filled with a silver nanoparticle (AgNP) ink.
Instead of using conventional material deposition methods, such as chemical vapor deposition, printing, and spin coating, for fabricating the thin dielectric layer, we used a simple method in which we prepared a thin dielectric layer using pre-made linear, low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) plastic (17-μm thick) by simple wrapping.
We then sealed it tightly with thin silicone oil layers so that it could be used as a DMF chip. Such a treated dielectric layer showed good electrowetting performance for a sessile drop without contact angle hysteresis under an applied voltage of less than 170 V. By using this straightforward fabrication method, we quickly and affordably fabricated a paper-based DMF chip and demonstrated the digital electrofluidic actuation and manipulation of drops.
Language: | English |
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Publisher: | MDPI |
Year: | 2019 |
Pages: | 109 |
ISSN: | 2072666x |
Types: | Journal article |
DOI: | 10.3390/mi10020109 |
ORCIDs: | 0000-0003-4164-2379 , Madsen, Jan , 0000-0001-8605-8331 and 0000-0002-7563-8581 |