An Inkjet-Printed Microfluidic RFID-Enabled Platform for Wireless Lab-on-Chip Applications

Abstract

This paper introduces the first-of-its-kind wireless passive sensing platform combining radio frequency identification (RFID), microfluidics, and inkjet printing technology that enables remote fluid analysis and requires as little as 3 L of fluid. The demonstrated variable microfluidic capacitors, resonators, and RFID tags are fabricated using a novel rapid, low-cost, and low-temperature additive inkjet process, making them disposable. However, even with their disposable nature, the RF microfluidic devices exhibit repeatability and long-term reusability for accurately detecting water, various alcohols, and % content of water/alcohol mixtures down to 1% water in ethanol. While the main discussion is on fluid sensing, the demonstrated components can also be used in fluid-tunable RF applications.

Inkjet‐Printed Smart Skins and Wirelessly‐Powered Sensors for Wearable Applications

“…Recent years have witnessed an increasing number of novel and low-cost fabrication approaches that have been proposed to address these issues. Inkjet printing, a low-cost additive manufacturing technique, is a promising technology that has been recently utilized in microfluidics fabrication [26,27]. By integrating inkjet printing and laser etching techniques, a rapid, low-cost, low-temperature, and zero-chemical treatment process has been developed.…”

Fluidically-Controlled Phase Tunable Line Using Inkjet-Printed Microfluidic Composite Right/Left Handed Transmission Line

“…최근 RF 소자와 미세유체의 상호작용에 관한 연구가 활발하게 진행되고 있으며, 특히 잉크젯 프린트된 RF 소 자와 결합된 미세유체채널 시스템에 관한 연구가 다양하 게 진행되어 왔다 [6]～ [8] . [9], [10] .…”

A metamaterial-inspired temperature stable inkjet-printed microfluidic-tunable bandstop filter

“…Microfluidics have become an invaluable tool over the past decade to manipulate, analyze, and interact with extremely small quantities of liquid in applications such as blood analysis, bio-assays, in-vitro wireless monitoring, manufacturing control, and recently introduced fluid-tunable electronic components [1]. Before the use of microfluidic systems, processes such as bio-assays and water quality analysis required large amounts of liquid ranging from milliliters to several liters, the majority of which is wasted in dead volume required to fill tubing and valves, and never utilized for analysis or measurement purposes.…”