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Rapid and Controllable Digital Microfluidic Heating by Surface Acoustic Waves
Author(s) -
Shilton Richie J.,
Mattoli Virgilio,
Travagliati Marco,
Agostini Matteo,
Desii Andrea,
Beltram Fabio,
Cecchini Marco
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.201501130
Subject(s) - materials science , microfluidics , decoupling (probability) , surface acoustic wave , viscosity , digital microfluidics , temperature control , acoustic wave , optoelectronics , acoustics , nanotechnology , thermodynamics , composite material , physics , electrowetting , control engineering , dielectric , engineering
Fast and controllable surface acoustic wave (SAW) driven digital microfluidic temperature changes are demonstrated. Within typical operating conditions, the direct acoustic heating effect is shown to lead to a maximum temperature increase of about 10 °C in microliter water droplets. The importance of decoupling droplets from other on‐chip heating sources is demonstrated. Acoustic‐heating‐driven temperature changes reach a highly stable steady‐state value in ≈3 s, which is an order of magnitude faster than previously published. This rise time can even be reduced to ≈150 ms by suitably tailoring the applied SAW‐power excitation profile. Moreover, this fast heating mechanism can lead to significantly higher temperature changes (over 40 °C) with higher viscosity fluids and can be of much interest for on‐chip control of biological and/or chemical reactions.