Optofluidics, nominally the research area where optics and fluidics merge, is a relatively new research field and it is only in the last decade that there has been a large increase in the number of optofluidics applications as well as in the number of research groups devoted to the topic. Nowadays optofluidics applications include, without being limited to, lab-on-chip devices, fluid-based and controlled lenses, optical sensors for fluids and for suspended particles, biosensors, imaging tools, etc. The long list of potential optofluidics applications, which have been recently demonstrated, suggests that optofluidic technologies will become more and more common in everyday life in the future, causing a significant impact on many aspects of our society. A characteristic of this research field, deriving from both its inter-disciplinary origin and applications, is that in order to develop suitable solutions it is often required to combine a deep knowledge in different fields, ranging from materials science to photonics, from microfluidics to molecular biology and biophysics. As a direct consequence, also being able to understand the long-term evolution of optofluidics research is not an easy target. In this article we report several expert-contributions on different topics, so as to provide guidance for young scientists. At the same time we hope that this document will also prove useful for funding institutions and stake holders, to better understand the perspectives and opportunities offered by this research field.

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A novel mixed‐mode stationary phase for open tubular capillary electrochromatography (CEC) was prepared. With 3‐aminopropyltrimethoxysilane as the spacer, the chemical reagent in conjunction with the fullerene played an important role in the electrochromatographic separation of the plant phenols. The fullerene C 60‐based column has the properties of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic interaction sites and provides a positively charged capillary surface responsible for the reversed electroosmotic flow (EOF) in the column during CEC operation. Comparative studies for the fullerene‐bonded phase, the intermediate phase with amino group and the bare fused‐silica were carried out. Under the conditions of acetate buffer (20 mM, pH 5.0) and applied voltage of −15 kV, the separation of catechin, salicylic acid, myricetin, quercetin, gallic acid, caffeic acid and p‐coumaric acid could be achieved. The proposed method was also applied to the analysis of plant phenols in grape juice.