Electrochemical microfluidics

Abstract

a b s t r a c tElectrochemical microfluidics is a young field, but now achieving substantial successes in science, engineering, and technology. In this review article, the use of electrochemical effects for actuation in microfluidic devices is described, with a focus on electrokinetic flow. Furthermore, the use of electrochemical microfluidic devices in analytic chemistry and biochemistry is detailed, largely for separation and detection, typically exploiting electrophoretic effects. Finally, the use of electrochemical microreactors is explored, with an eye to the synthesis and processing advantages that come from microscale operations. Microfluidic devices are, more than ever, serving as a platform for nanoscience and nanotechnology, with molecular scale manipulation and detection enabled by microfluidic control of the environment.

Degradation of pharmaceutical contaminant ibuprofen in aqueous solution by cylindrical wetted-wall corona discharge

“…Much more reactive chemical species other than hydroxyl radical can be produced, such as hydrogen peroxide, hydroperoxyl and ozone. Zimmerman et al devoted to the investigation of the ozone formation reaction in a microchannel plasma reactor [27,28]. Furthermore, shock waves and UV light formed by discharge also can be favorable during water treatment [29].…”

A kinetic model for H2 production by plasmolysis of water vapours at atmospheric pressure in a dielectric barrier discharge microchannel reactor

“…Micro-plasma reactors, along with their lower power requirement, offer another advantage of better control over the process than the conventional processing. This is possible because use of microfluidics can tailor fluid dynamics through high but brief field gradients which are spatially precise and electronically controlled [11].…”

Improved particle concentration by cascade AC electroosmotic flow

“…9, three-dimensional concentrating factor can be estimated as more than 700. This AC electrokinetic method for 3D particle focusing method can be potentially used in impedance cytometry (Gawad et al 2001;Cheung et al 2010) or electrochemical detection (Goral et al 2006;Zimmerman 2011).…”