Hydrogel impeller formation via vacuum degassing photopolymerization for micromixers
(2025) In Sensors and Actuators A: Physical 382.- Abstract
For effective mixing within microfluidic devices through the application of obstacle-based structures, a straightforward approach involves in-situ fabrication, such as the free-radical photopolymerization of hydrogel structures. However, oxygen inhibition presents a challenge for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic chips. In this paper, we present a solution to the problem of hydrogel-structure formation hindered by oxygen inhibition at low light intensities and the photoinitiator concentration achieved using vacuum degassing. Furthermore, a kinetic model for photopolymerization under vacuum conditions was established and converted into an equation of light intensity and exposure time while keeping the other parameters... (More)
For effective mixing within microfluidic devices through the application of obstacle-based structures, a straightforward approach involves in-situ fabrication, such as the free-radical photopolymerization of hydrogel structures. However, oxygen inhibition presents a challenge for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic chips. In this paper, we present a solution to the problem of hydrogel-structure formation hindered by oxygen inhibition at low light intensities and the photoinitiator concentration achieved using vacuum degassing. Furthermore, a kinetic model for photopolymerization under vacuum conditions was established and converted into an equation of light intensity and exposure time while keeping the other parameters constant. The exposure time range was successfully predicted by comparing the experimental data and analyzing scenarios. This method was used to fabricate an impeller for a passive micromixer. The impeller rotation was then analyzed. The results demonstrated that with an increased flow rate exceeding 6 mL/min, the mixing efficiency is significantly higher owing to the rotation of the impeller. The mixing efficiency was quantitatively assessed through experiments involving the mixing of three dyes, showing a three-fold increase compared to the chip without the impeller. Our research provides valuable insights into the fabrication of hydrogel structures in PDMS-based microfluidic chips under vacuum conditions.
(Less)
- author
- Zheng, Jiahui ; Liu, Xing LU ; Zheng, Xiaolin and Hu, Ning
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-02
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Micromixer, Oxygen inhibition, PEGDA, Vacuum degassing
- in
- Sensors and Actuators A: Physical
- volume
- 382
- article number
- 116072
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85210307725
- ISSN
- 0924-4247
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.sna.2024.116072
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 62b243fa-a927-4df8-b430-74dad97baf76
- date added to LUP
- 2025-02-20 13:15:55
- date last changed
- 2025-04-04 15:28:12
@article{62b243fa-a927-4df8-b430-74dad97baf76,
abstract = {{<p>For effective mixing within microfluidic devices through the application of obstacle-based structures, a straightforward approach involves in-situ fabrication, such as the free-radical photopolymerization of hydrogel structures. However, oxygen inhibition presents a challenge for polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based microfluidic chips. In this paper, we present a solution to the problem of hydrogel-structure formation hindered by oxygen inhibition at low light intensities and the photoinitiator concentration achieved using vacuum degassing. Furthermore, a kinetic model for photopolymerization under vacuum conditions was established and converted into an equation of light intensity and exposure time while keeping the other parameters constant. The exposure time range was successfully predicted by comparing the experimental data and analyzing scenarios. This method was used to fabricate an impeller for a passive micromixer. The impeller rotation was then analyzed. The results demonstrated that with an increased flow rate exceeding 6 mL/min, the mixing efficiency is significantly higher owing to the rotation of the impeller. The mixing efficiency was quantitatively assessed through experiments involving the mixing of three dyes, showing a three-fold increase compared to the chip without the impeller. Our research provides valuable insights into the fabrication of hydrogel structures in PDMS-based microfluidic chips under vacuum conditions.</p>}},
author = {{Zheng, Jiahui and Liu, Xing and Zheng, Xiaolin and Hu, Ning}},
issn = {{0924-4247}},
keywords = {{Micromixer; Oxygen inhibition; PEGDA; Vacuum degassing}},
language = {{eng}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Sensors and Actuators A: Physical}},
title = {{Hydrogel impeller formation via vacuum degassing photopolymerization for micromixers}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.sna.2024.116072}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.sna.2024.116072}},
volume = {{382}},
year = {{2025}},
}