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Paper-based digital microfluidics

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Abstract

In this paper, a new fabrication method for digital microfluidics is proposed. In which, paper, graphite, and adhesive tape are used as substrate, electrodes, and dielectric layer, respectively. The graphite is sprayed over a template on the paper substrate. Two different water repellants are used as the hydrophobic layer, which replace with expensive materials such as Teflon-AF®. The paper substrate is low cost, available, and flexible. The proposed device is disposable, and its fabrication procedure is simple, fast, and low cost which allows creation of a new device for each individual experiment. Therefore, problems such as adsorption and dielectric breakdown will not occur in this type of digital microfluidics. This device can perform two types of droplet operations, merging and moving on droplets in volumes of 15–50 μL.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Mr. Hossein Yahyaei and Dr. Mohsen Mohseni from Amirkabir University of Technology and Mr. Poursaeedi from Avam® Co. for their technical consultants about hydrophobic materials. This research is partially supported by nano electronic center of excellence, University of Tehran, and Iran National Elite Foundation (INEF).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 14395/515, Tehran, Iran

    Arash Abadian & Shahin Jafarabadi-Ashtiani

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  1. Arash Abadian
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  2. Shahin Jafarabadi-Ashtiani
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Correspondence to Shahin Jafarabadi-Ashtiani.

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Abadian, A., Jafarabadi-Ashtiani, S. Paper-based digital microfluidics. Microfluid Nanofluid 16, 989–995 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-014-1345-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-014-1345-7

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