Abstract

A method for enhancing the surface wettability of PDMS microchannels used in microfluidic devices, is presented. Colloidal TiO2 nanorods are mixed in a PDMS solution that was used subsequently to realize parallel microchannels, through a replica molding procedure. TiO2 has the intrinsic capability of increasing dramatically its hydrophilicity upon UV irradiation. Due to this property, incorporating TiO2 nanofillers into the PDMS microchannels we manage to induce their hydrophobic-to-hydrophilic conversion upon UV irradiation. This conversion is essential for water to fill the microfluidic channels, in contrast to what happens for the non-irradiated nanocomposite or pure PDMS channels, which are characterized by high hydrophobicity and do not allow water to penetrate. The reversibility of the wettability changes permits to the microchannels to recover their original hydrophobicity.

Autore Pugliese

• Cozzoli Pantaleo Davide

Tutti gli autori

• F. Villafiorita-Monteleone , E. Mele , P. D. Cozzoli , D. Pisignano , R. Cingolani , D. Fragouli , A. Athanassiou

Titolo volume/Rivista

Non Disponibile

Anno di pubblicazione

2011

ISSN

Non Disponibile

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

Non Disponibile

0

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile