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Three‐Dimensional Fluidic Self‐Assembly by Axis Translation of Two‐Dimensionally Fabricated Microcomponents in Railed Microfluidics
Author(s) -
Chung Su Eun,
Jung Yoonseok,
Kwon Sunghoon
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201001806
Subject(s) - fluidics , microfluidics , nanotechnology , materials science , stacking , microelectromechanical systems , engineering , chemistry , electrical engineering , organic chemistry
A method for high‐throughput 3D self‐assembly of 2D photopatterned microstructures using railed microfluidics is presented. Vertical device patterning of heterogeneous materials requires high‐level integration using conventional microelectromechanical system (MEMS) technology; however, 3D railed assembly enables easy and fast self‐assembly via a fluidic axis‐translation process and simple material exchange in microfluidic channels. Individually photopatterned 2D microstructures are axis‐translated from in‐plane to out‐of‐plane and fluidically self‐assembled, guided by side‐rails in microfluidic channels to form a 3D morphology. Since the structures are fabricated in fluidic environments, there are no fixed initial points on the channel substrate allowing fluidic horizontal stacking of erected 2D structures. The guiding mechanism of railed microfluidics enables efficient fluidic handling and deterministic 3D self‐assembly of heterogeneous components such as electronic components or polymeric microstructures using only fluidic force.