Liquid metal microcoils for sensing and actuation in lab-on-a-chip applications

Kong, Tian Fook; Nguyen, Nam‐Trung

doi:10.1007/s00542-013-1907-8

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…This paper utilizes a commercially available spray-coating technique to create, study, and utilize rough nonwetting surfaces toward gallium (Ga)-based liquid metal alloys. Liquid metals offer high electrical conductivities of metals and fluidic properties of liquids. − As a result, they are suitable conductors for electronics that may be soft and stretchable, ,− as well as shape reconfigurable. , Because these metals are fluids, they also show promise for adaptable electromagnetic components, such as antennas, − metasurfaces, gratings, and polarizers. − …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterning and Reversible Actuation of Liquid Gallium Alloys by Preventing Adhesion on Rough Surfaces

Joshipura¹,

Ayers²,

Castillo³

et al. 2018

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

104

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This work reports a simple approach to form, study, and utilize rough coatings that prevent the adhesion of gallium-based liquid metal alloys. Typically, liquids with large interfacial tension do not wet nonreactive surfaces, regardless of surface topography. However, these alloys form a surface oxide “skin” that adheres to many substrates, even those with low surface energy. This work reports a simple approach to render closed channels and surfaces, including soft materials, to be “oxide-phobic” via spray-coating (NeverWet, which is commercially available and inexpensive). Surface spectroscopic techniques and metrology tools elucidate the coatings to comprise silica nanoparticles grafted with silicones that exhibit dual length scales of roughness. Although prior work shows the importance of surface roughness in preventing adhesion, the present work confirms that both hydrophobic and hydrophilic rough surfaces prevent oxide adhesion. Furthermore, the coating enables reversible actuation through submillimeter closed channels to form a reconfigurable antenna in the gigahertz range without the need for corrosive acids or bases that remove the oxide. In addition, the coating enables open surface patterning of conductive traces of liquid metal. This shows it is possible to actuate liquid metals in air without leaving neither metal nor oxide residue on surfaces to enable reconfigurable electronics, microfluidics, and soft electrodes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Patterning and Reversible Actuation of Liquid Gallium Alloys by Preventing Adhesion on Rough Surfaces

Joshipura¹,

Ayers²,

Castillo³

et al. 2018

ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces

104

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Section: Lm-based Physical Sensorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In another study on direct exploitation of LM-based microchannels for biosensing, Kong and Nguyen fabricated a multilayer lab-on-a-chip (LOC) platform for magnetic resonance relaxometry (MRR) using a Ga-based microcoil as both actuator and sensor. The platform, shown in Figure C, was utilized for measuring blood hematocrit levels based on transverse relaxation rates, which proportionally increased by hematocrit levels due to a higher magnetic susceptibility.…”

Section: Lm-based Physical Sensorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Emerging Role of Liquid Metals in Sensing

Baharfar

Kalantar‐zadeh

2022

ACS Sens.

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Low melting point metals and alloys are the group of materials that combine metallic and liquid properties, simultaneously. The fascinating characteristics of liquid metals (LMs) including softness and high electrical and thermal conductivity, as well as their unique interfacial chemistry, have started to dominate various research disciplines. Utilization of LMs as responsive interfaces, enabling sensing in a flexible and versatile manner, is one of the most promising traits demonstrated for LMs. In the context of LMs-enabled sensors, gallium (Ga) and its alloys have emerged as multipurpose functional materials with many compelling physical and chemical properties. Responsiveness to different stimuli and easy-to-functionalize interfaces of Ga-based LMs make them ideal candidates for a variety of sensing applications. However, despite the vast capabilities of Ga-based LMs in sensing, applications of these materials for developing different sensors have not been fully explored. In the present review, we provide a comprehensive overview regarding the applications of Ga-based LMs in a wide range of sensing approaches that cover different physical and chemical sensors. The unique features of Ga-based LMs, which make them promising materials for sensing, are discussed in subsections followed by relevant case studies. Finally, challenges as well as the prospected future and developing motifs are highlighted for each type of LM-based sensors.

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“…Membranes made of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) are attractive because of the large deflection achieved with its low Young's modulus [11]. Recently, we integrated a coil made of a metal with low melting temperature into a PDMS membrane and use it together with a permanent magnet as an electromagnetic actuator [12]. Since the current passes through the coil, induced Joule heating may increase the temperature of the membrane and its surrounding.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Elastic Magnetic Membrane for Improved Mixing in Microwells

Chong¹,

Sim²,

Yeo³

et al. 2015

MNS

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We demonstrate a simple method to fabricate elastic magnetic membrane which could be used to enhance mixing in microwells of a microtitre plate. The magnetic membrane was fabricated using an off-the-shelf flexible magnetic sheet and the elastomer polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). In order to demonstrate the concept, the membrane was integrated in a single microwell to act as an actuator for improved mixing. A customized electromagnet was used to allow contactless and robust actuation. The membrane can achieve a unidirectional deflection of about 120 µm when a 3 A direct current (DC) is applied. Periodic deflection is achieved by applying a square wave alternating current (AC) of 100 Hz and ±3 A. In the dynamic case, the membrane follows the square wave with the same frequency and provides a peak-to-peak deflection of about 115 µm. The observed oscillation was able to mix the fluorescent dye and an aqueous solution within 18 seconds. The proposed method has the potential to be implemented in microtiter plate arrays to improve mixing.

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Liquid metal microcoils for sensing and actuation in lab-on-a-chip applications

Cited by 10 publications

References 19 publications

Patterning and Reversible Actuation of Liquid Gallium Alloys by Preventing Adhesion on Rough Surfaces

Patterning and Reversible Actuation of Liquid Gallium Alloys by Preventing Adhesion on Rough Surfaces

Emerging Role of Liquid Metals in Sensing

Elastic Magnetic Membrane for Improved Mixing in Microwells

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