Innovative Micro Gas Pumping Via Liquid Dielectrophoresis With Zero-Dead Volume and Leak-tight Features

This paper demonstrates an unconventional gas pumping method using a circulation of liquid without leaking issues. Low surface tension liquid is employed as an actuating piston to achieve effective gas pumping with leak-tight sealing inside the microfluidic channel. Because of the excellent wet-tability of the liquid piston, inner surfaces of the microfluidic pumping channel get completely wetted and any possible tiny leaky spots can be sealed. Gas pockets from the intake port move smoothly along the pumping channel without creating any dead volume. Locally formed nanostructures in the microfluidic channel enable steady immobilization of liquid pistons in selected areas and smooth transitions of liquid pistons. [2015-0337]