Shear flow pumping in open microfluidic systems

TL;DR

This paper introduces a shear flow pumping method for open microfluidic systems, offering simpler operation and evaporation prevention, with demonstrated scalability and practical device design.

Contribution

It presents a novel shear-based pumping mechanism for open microfluidics, supported by calculations and molecular dynamics simulations.

Findings

Expected throughput for straight channels calculated.

Device design feasible with existing technology.

Scalability down to nanoscale suggested.

Abstract

We propose to drive open microfluidic systems by shear in a covering fluid layer, e.g., oil covering water-filled chemical channels. The advantages as compared to other means of pumping are simpler forcing and prevention of evaporation of volatile components. We calculate the expected throughput for straight channels and show that devices can be built with off-the-shelf technology. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that this concept is scalable down to the nanoscale.