Programmable Microfluidics Enabled by 3D Printed Bionic Janus Porous Matrics for Microfluidic Logic Chips

Mingzhu Xie; Ziheng Zhan; Chengqi Zhang; Wanqing Xu; Ce Zhang; Yongping Chen; Zhichao Dong; Zhaolong Wang

doi:10.1002/smll.202300047

Programmable Microfluidics Enabled by 3D Printed Bionic Janus Porous Matrics for Microfluidic Logic Chips

Small. 2023 Aug;19(34):e2300047. doi: 10.1002/smll.202300047. Epub 2023 May 1.

Authors

Mingzhu Xie¹, Ziheng Zhan¹, Chengqi Zhang², Wanqing Xu¹, Ce Zhang³, Yongping Chen^{4

5}, Zhichao Dong⁶, Zhaolong Wang¹

Affiliations

¹ Interdisciplinary Research Center of Low-Carbon Technology and Equipment, College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, P. R. China.
² School of Chemistry, Beihang University, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China.
³ Qian Xuesen Laboratory of Space Technology, China Academy of Space Technology, Beijing, 100094, P. R. China.
⁴ Key Laboratory of Energy Thermal Conversion and Control of Ministry of Education, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, P. R. China.
⁵ Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Heat Fluid Flow Technology and Energy Application, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou, 215009, P. R. China.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Bio-inspired Materials and Interface Sciences, Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, P. R. China.

PMID: 37127869
DOI: 10.1002/smll.202300047

Abstract

Numerous structures have been functionally optimized for directional liquid transport in nature. Inspired by lush trees' xylem that enable liquid directional transportation from rhizomes to the tip of trees, a new kind of programmable microfluidic porous matrices using projection micro-stereolithography (PµSL) based 3D printing technique is fabricated. Structural matrices with internal superhydrophilicity and external hydrophobicity are assembled for ultra-fast liquid rising enabled by capillary force. Moreover, the unidirectional microfluidic performance of the bionic porous matrices can be theoretically optimized by adjusting its geometric parameters. Most significantly, the successive programmable flow of liquid in a preferred direction inside the bionic porous matrices with tailored wettability is achieved, validating by a precisely printed liquid displayer and a microfluidic logic chip. The programmable and functional microfluidic matrices promise applications of patterned liquid flow, displayer, logic chip, cell screening, gas-liquid separation, and so on.

Keywords: Laplace force; PµSL 3D printing; bionic porous matrices; patterned liquid flow; programmable microfluidics.

Abstract

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