Solano Arana, Susana (2023)
Microfluidic systems based on electroactive polymers technology.
Technische Universität Darmstadt
doi: 10.26083/tuprints-00024044
Ph.D. Thesis, Primary publication, Publisher's Version
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Item Type: | Ph.D. Thesis | ||||
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Type of entry: | Primary publication | ||||
Title: | Microfluidic systems based on electroactive polymers technology | ||||
Language: | English | ||||
Referees: | Burg, Prof. PhD Thomas P. ; Shea, Prof. PhD Herbert | ||||
Date: | 1 June 2023 | ||||
Place of Publication: | Darmstadt | ||||
Collation: | x, 194 Seiten | ||||
Date of oral examination: | 12 October 2022 | ||||
DOI: | 10.26083/tuprints-00024044 | ||||
Abstract: | Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) have been widely investigated for more than 30 years. Lately, several fabrication methods have successfully allowed the creation of very thin elastomer and electrode layers. The development of attractive applications, in which DEAs offer advantages over conventional technologies, is thus necessary for the advance of the technology. In this work, new biocompatible microfluidic devices based on DEAs are developed. In the first part of this thesis, several prototypes of peristaltic pumps of single layer dielectric elastomer actuators are designed, manufactured and characterized. Although these prototypes were not able to produce fluid flow, novel insights into the capabilities of Electroactive Polymer technology were gained. In the second part of this work, a pumping micromixer as a novel application of dielectric elastomer stacked actuators is manufactured. The pumping micromixer is based on peristaltic movements, which gently act as a mixer and a pump for microfluidics. Experimental data show a maximal flow rate of 21.5 µL/min at 10 Hz. Image analysis at the outlet proves a 50/50 mixing when all actuators are functioning at the same pace and voltage. The performance of the pumping micromixer is further studied with the Finite Element Method, using the COMSOL Multiphysics® software. Simulations demonstrate the versatility of the pumping characteristics of such a microdevice, from very few µL/min to mL/min, and from a very low pressure in the range of Pa to hundreds of kPa, by only changing the duty cycle, phase shift and actuation frequency. |
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Status: | Publisher's Version | ||||
URN: | urn:nbn:de:tuda-tuprints-240442 | ||||
Classification DDC: | 600 Technology, medicine, applied sciences > 621.3 Electrical engineering, electronics | ||||
Divisions: | 18 Department of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology > Integrated Micro- and Nanosystems | ||||
Date Deposited: | 01 Jun 2023 12:31 | ||||
Last Modified: | 05 Dec 2023 06:15 | ||||
URI: | https://tuprints.ulb.tu-darmstadt.de/id/eprint/24044 | ||||
PPN: | 508293588 | ||||
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