• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.91-96
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• 2014

We present a droplet-manipulation method using opto-thermal flows in oils. The flows are originated from Marangoni and buoyancy effects due to temperature gradient, generated by the adsorption of light on an amorphous silicon thin film. Using this method, we can transport, merge and mix droplets in an extremely simple system. Since the temperature rise during the operation is small, this method can be used for biological applications without the damage on cell viability.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.03b
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• pp.666-669
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• 2008

Droplet in miniaturized microfluidic systems have received much focused attention recently. In this work, electrical charging phenomenon of a conducting water droplet on the electrode under the dc electric field is studied and using this phenomenon droplet actuation method for microreactor applications is experimentally demonstrated. To find effects of key factors, the effects of electric field, medium viscosity, and droplet size are investigated. A scaling law of charging for the conducting droplet is derived from the experimental results. Unlike the case of a perfect conductor, the estimated amount of electrical charge ($Q_{est}$) of a water droplet is proportional to the 1.59 power of the droplet radius (R) and the 1.33 power of the electric field strength (E). (For a spherical perfect conductor, Q is proportional to R2 and E.) It is thought that the differences are mainly due to incomplete charging of a water droplet resulted from the combined effect of electrochemical reaction at electrode and the relatively low conductivity of water. Using this phenomenon, we demonstrate the transport of the charged droplet and fusion of two oppositely-charged droplets. When electric field is subjected sequentially on the electrode, the charged droplet is transported on the electrode. For the visualization of fusion of charged droplets, the precipitation reaction is used. When subjected to a DC voltage, two droplets charged are moving and merging toward each other due to the Coulombic force and chemical reaction is simultaneously occurred by coalescence of droplets. It may be due to the interchange effect of charge. It is shown that the droplet can be used for microreactor where transporting, merging etc. of reagents constitute unit operation.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.105-111
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• 2024

The SLA (Stereolithography Apparatus) method is a type of 3D printing technique predicated on the transformation of liquid photocurable resin into a solid form through UV laser exposure, and its application is increasing in various fields. In this study, we conducted research to enhance the hydrophobicity and transparency of SLA 3D printing surfaces for microfluidic system production. The enhancement of surface hydrophobicity in SLA outputs was attainable through the application of hydrophobic coating methods, but the coating durability under different conditions varied depending on the type of hydrophobic coating. Additionally, to simultaneously achieve the required transparency and hydrophobic properties for the fabrication of microfluidic systems, we applied hydrophobic coatings to the proposed transparency enhancement method from prior research and compared the changes in contact angles. Teflon coating was proposed as a suitable hydrophobic coating method for the fabrication of microfluidic systems, given its excellent transparency and high coating durability in various environmental conditions, in comparison to titanium dioxide coating. Finally, we produced an Electrophoresis of Charged Droplet (ECD) chip, one of the digital microfluidics systems, using SLA 3D printing with the proposed Teflon coating method (Fluoropel 800). Droplet manipulation was successfully demonstrated with the fabricated chip, confirming the potential application of SLA 3D printing technology in the production of microfluidic systems.