Abstract

Ultra-Low-Voltage Manipulation of Microdroplets using Electrochemical Redox Process of Smart Polymers

Chang-Hwan Choi, Associate Professor, Stevens Institute of Technology

Manipulation of microdroplets has broad applications in microfluidics and lab-on-a-chip devices. The technologies based on the tunable wetting or adhesion were previously reported by utilizing the external stimuli, such as pH, light, magnetic field, mechanical force, or electrical field. In this talk, the tunable wetting and adhesion properties of the dodecylbenzenesulfonate-doped polypyrrole (PPy(DBS)) polymer will first be presented for ultra-low-voltage (<1V) microdroplet manipulation based on electrochemical redox process. Utilizing the tunable wetting property, a lateral transportation of an organic microdroplet from one PPy(DBS) electrode to another in aqueous solution will then be demonstrated. A vertical capture-release process of an organic microdroplet by utilizing the tunable adhesion of PPy(DBS) surface will also be demonstrated.