Effect of Joule heating on the electroosmotic microvortex and dielectrophoretic particle separation controlled by local electric field

Dielectrophoresis (DEP) technology has become important application of microfluidic technology to manipulate particles. By using a local modulating electric field to control the combination of electroosmotic microvortices and DEP, our group proposed a device using a direct current (DC) electric field to achieve continuous particle separation. In this paper, the influence of the Joule heating effect on the continuous separation of particles is analyzed. Results show that the Joule heating effect is caused by the local electric field, and the Joule heating effect caused by adjusting the modulating voltage is more significant than that by driving voltage. Moreover, a non-uniform temperature distribution exists in the channel due to the Joule heating effect, and the temperature is the highest at the midpoint of the modulating electrodes. The channel flux can be enhanced, and the enhancement of both the channel flux and temperature is more obvious for a stronger Joule heating effect. In addition, the ability of the vortices to trap particles is enhanced since a larger DEP force is exerted on the particles with the Joule heating effect; and the ability of the vortex to capture particles is stronger with a stronger Joule heating effect. The separation efficiency can also be increased because perfect separation is achieved at a higher channel flux. Parameter optimization of the separation device, such as the convective heat transfer coefficient of the channel wall, the length of modulating electrode, and the width of the channel, is performed.     

Electric field-driven structural changes in cholesteric shells for optical applications

Cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) shells with planar anchoring condition were prepared by using a capillary microfluidic technology. Under the influence of an electric field, shells were studied by filling them in glass cells coated with transparent ITO working as an electrode. CLC shells with a planar texture having dark brushes at 0 V under crossed polarizers transformed into a focal conic domain, a fingerprint texture, and finally to an isotropic phase with an increase of electric field that was confirmed by inserting the Bertrand lens in the polarized light path. In addition, our studies also show that the electric-field-driven isotropic phase was due to dielectric heating and local heating effects. The calculated magnitude of the local heating result from the model was in agreement with the experimental observation together with the chiral nematic to isotropic transition due to conventional heating.     

Electrical and structural properties of VO2 in an electric field

We examined the electrical and local structural properties of a VO₂ film at different electric fields using electrical resistance and x-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) measurements at the V K edge in the temperature range of 30–100 °C. The T_c value of the metal-to-insulator transition (MIT) during both heating and cooling decreases with electric field. When the electric field exceeds a certain value, the MIT becomes sharper due to Joule heating. The MIT, the structural phase transition (SPT), and the pre-edge peak transition of the VO₂ do not congruently occur at a uniform temperature. A metallic VO₂ is observed in only the rutile (or M2) symmetry. An electric field induces a substantial amount of conduction electrons in insulating VO₂. Simultaneously measured resistance and XAFS reveal that Joule heating caused by an external electric field significantly affects the MIT and SPT of VO₂.     

Fluorescence monitoring of microchip capillary electrophoresis separation with monolithically integrated waveguides

Using femtosecond laser writing, optical waveguides were monolithically integrated into a commercial microfluidic lab-on-a-chip device, with the waveguides intersecting a microfluidic channel. Continuous-wave laser excitation through these optical waveguides confines the excitation window to a width of 12 microm, enabling high-resolution monitoring of the passage of different types of fluorescent analytes when migrating and being separated in the microfluidic channel by microchip capillary electrophoresis. Furthermore, we demonstrate on-chip-integrated waveguide excitation and detection of a biologically relevant species, fluorescently labeled DNA molecules, during microchip capillary electrophoresis. Well-controlled plug formation as required for on-chip integrated capillary electrophoresis separation of DNA molecules, and the combination of waveguide excitation and a low limit of detection, will enable monitoring of extremely small quantities with high spatial resolution.     

3D integration of microcomponents in a single glass chip by femtosecond laser direct writing for biochemical analysis

3D integration of microcomponents in a single glass chip by femtosecond laser direct writing followed by post annealing and successive wet etching is described for application to biochemical analysis. Integration of microfluidics and microoptics realized some functional microdevices like a μ-fluidic dye laser and a biosensor. As one of practical applications, we demonstrate inspection of living microorganisms using the microchip with 3D microfluidic structures fabricated by the present technique.     

Large crystalline grain growth using current-induced Joule heating

Electrical-current-induced Joule heating was applied to crystallization of 60-nm-thick amorphous silicon films formed on glass substrates. 3-7s-pulsed voltages were applied to silicon films connected with a capacitance in parallel. Coincident irradiation with 28-ns-pulsed excimer laser melted films partially and reduced its resistance. Complete melting for 12 7s and a low cooling rate at 1.1᎒⁸ K/s were achieved by Joule heating from electrical energy accumulated in the capacitance at 0.22 7F. For 7.4᎒¹⁷ cm^-3 phosphorus-doped films, analysis of temperature change in the electrical conductivity gave that the density of defect states localized at grain boundaries was 1.5᎒¹² cm^-2. Formation of 3.5-7m-long crystalline grains was observed by transmission electron micrograph. Preferential crystalline orientation was (110).     

电场对协流式微流控装置中乳液液滴生成行为的调控机理

建立了直流电场作用下协流式微流控装置中单乳液液滴乳化生成过程的非稳态理论模型,并开展了数值模拟研究,揭示了电场对液滴乳化生成动力学行为的调控机理,阐明了流场/电场参数对液滴乳化生成特性的影响规律.研究结果表明:沿流体流动方向施加静电场可在电物性参数不同的两相流体界面法线方向上产生指向内相流体的电场力,进而强化了内相流体界面的颈缩和断裂,提升了液滴生成速率和形变程度,减小了液滴生成尺寸;在同一毛细数下,随着电毛细数的增大,乳液乳化流型由每周期仅有单一液滴生成的滴式流型转变为每周期有一个主液滴并伴随有卫星液滴生成的滴式流型;随着毛细数和电毛细数的增大,黏性拖曳力以及电场力作用增强,使内相流体颈缩过程后期更容易形成细长型液线,从而有助于诱发液线上产生Rayleigh-Plateau不稳定现象,继而促进卫星液滴的形成.     

液体介质快脉冲电压下击穿特性研究

设计了液体介质快脉冲击穿试验装置和电压电流测量系统，研究了重复频率、电极形状及电极间距与介质击穿场强、击穿电压和击穿时延等击穿特性参数的关系，比较了变压器油、十二烷基苯、蓖麻油三种典型液体绝缘介质在直流及快脉冲电压作用下的绝缘性能。结果表明:短脉冲持续时间下液体绝缘材料有异常高的击穿场强；重复脉冲串作用下的击穿场强比单个脉冲下明显减小，重复频率2 kHz时击穿场强减小了约30％；电极头半径大小对击穿也有影响，半径R＝5 mm时，击穿电压最高；击穿时延随击穿场强减小而变长，在其他条件相同的情况下，测得击穿时延随机波动；蓖麻油的快脉冲电压绝缘性能最好，变压器油次之。     

液态三元Fe-Sn-Si/Ge偏晶合金相分离过程的实验和模拟研究

本文采用自由落体实验技术和格子玻尔兹曼计算方法研究了低重力条件下液态Fe-Sn-Si/Ge合金的相分离过程. 实验发现, 二种合金液滴在自由下落过程中均发生显著的液相分离, 形成了壳核和弥散组织. 当Fe-Sn-Si合金中的Si元素被等量的Ge元素替换后, 壳核组织中富Fe区和富Sn区的分布次序会发生反转. 计算表明, 在液相分离过程中冷却速率、Marangoni对流和表面偏析对壳核构型的选择和弥散组织的形成起决定性作用.     

Recent research on magnetic properties of glass-coated microwires

In this paper, we report and analyse the results of tailoring the GMI effect of glass-coated amorphous thin microwires (with the metallic nucleus diameter about 10–22 μm) by choosing the sample chemical composition, geometry (thickness of glass coating) and conditions of heat treatment by Joule heating and furnace annealing. The observed dependencies have been interpreted in terms of stress relaxation and changes of the magneto-elastic anisotropy induced by the Joule heating.     

Electro-statically controllable graphene local heater

We report on current-induced thermal power investigation of graphene nanostructure for potential local-heating applications. It is found that the efficiency of heating can be greatly improved if graphene is patterned into structures with narrow width and long channel. In a narrow graphene-ribbon, the Joule heating power exhibits an obvious dependence on the back-gate voltage. By monitoring Raman spectra, the temperature of graphene-ribbon can be determined. The temperature of graphene-ribbon is modulated by the electric field effect when the sample is sourced with a relatively high current.     

毛细管电泳噪声特性分析

为优化毛细管电泳荧光信号检测系统,提高检测灵敏度,以100~1 000碱基对的脱氧核糖核酸作为分离对象,羟乙基纤维素为筛分介质,研究了直流电场下毛细管电泳荧光信号检测系统中的噪声特性.对不同分离电场强度、羟乙基纤维素溶液浓度和分子量、毛细管有效长度以及毛细管内径形状等情况下的噪声特性进行分析.分析得到该检测系统中信噪比最佳的优化参量,即分离电场强度为500~600V/cm、羟乙基纤维素浓度为0.6%~0.7%、羟乙基纤维素分子量为250、圆形内径为50μm以及毛细管有效长度为8cm.     

Synchrotron‐based spectroscopy of X‐ray channeling through hollow capillary microchannels inside glass plates

Here, soft X‐ray synchrotron radiation transmitted through microchannel plates is studied experimentally. Fine structures of reflection and XANES Si L‐edge spectra detected on the exit of silicon glass microcapillary structures under conditions of total X‐ray reflection are presented and analyzed. The phenomenon of the interaction of channeling radiation with unoccupied electronic states and propagation of X‐ray fluorescence excited in the microchannels is revealed. Investigations of the interaction of monochromatic radiation with the inner‐shell capillary surface and propagation of fluorescence radiation through hollow glass capillary waveguides contribute to the development of novel X‐ray focusing devices in the future.     

Electrophoresis of sheared polyelectrolytes

ABSTRACT

A shear flow breaks the spherical symmetry of a flexible polymer, which has some interesting consequences for the electrophoresis of polyelectrolytes. In addition to introducing a chain-length dependence of the electrophoretic velocity, there is also the possibility of migration of the molecule perpendicular to the direction of coaxial gradients in pressure and electric potential. This has been shown to produce a rapid and highly localised concentration of DNA within a microfluidic capillary, with a number of potential applications to on-chip preparation and analysis of genomic DNA. In this paper, dedicated to Prof. Daan Frenkel, I will describe a calculation of the electrophoretic motion of a long polyelectrolyte under a coaxial flow and electric field.     

One type of hydrodynamic instability in joule heating of a fluid near an ion-selective surface

The stability of the equilibrium state of an electrolyte in a horizontal microgap between two ionselective surfaces in an electric field is studied with the Joule heating of the fluid taken into account. It is established that the Joule heating can lead to instability at the potential differences, which are several times smaller than those in the isothermal case. The effects of microscale thermal instability differ from the Rayleigh–Benard thermal convection: the destabilization occurs upon heating in the upper part of the gap.     

制备复合液滴的微尺度流动方法

微尺度流动能够一步到位地制备不同结构和功能、尺寸在微米量级的复合液滴.文章回顾了几种常见的基于复合液滴的微尺度流动方法,包括同轴电雾化、复合流动聚焦、微流控芯片、玻璃微毛细管等,并对各种技术的原理和进展进行了简要概括和分析.在这类流动中,不同种类的流体在一定的几何结构通道或外力场作用下平稳地拉伸成微细射流并最终破碎成复合液滴.在同轴电雾化和复合流动聚焦技术中,从毛细管流出的流体能够形成稳定的锥-射流结构,当外力作用改变时能够形成不同的流动模式.在微流控芯片和玻璃微毛细管技术中,流体被约束在固定管道内,不同管道构型下能够形成不同的流动形态.这些方法都采用纯物理机理,过程稳定、易于操作,制备的复合液滴粒径可控,单分散性好,微观结构可设计,在科学研究和工程实际中具有重要的应用价值.      

The effects of boundary layer phenomena on the performance of diskCCMHD generator

Two dimensional calculations were carried out to clarify the behavior of boundary layer and its effects on performance of closed cycle MHD (CCMHD) generator and to investigate the relation between enthalpy extraction ratio and adiabatic efficiency. Calculation results suggest that the large Lorentz force causes propagation and separation of boundary layer where reverse current flows, because of small electromotive force. For large load resistance boundary layer becomes very thick and the eddy current arises in broad region. The push work of working gas against Lorentz force is effectively converted into electric energy under the condition at which the Lorentz force decelerates the working gas to Mach number in the range between 1.0 and 1.5 in this case of the generator. Stagnation pressure loss increases with load resistance until enthalpy extraction ratio takes maximum value. The entropy production due to Joule heating and viscosity increases with load resistance. The difference between the load resistances for which the enthalpy extraction ratio and the adiabatic efficiency take maximum value can be explained with the entropy production of Joule heating and viscosity     

Rectified motion of colloids in asymmetrically structured channels

We set micron size particles into macroscopic motion by submitting them to a low frequency electric field (of zero mean value) in a microfabricated channel exhibiting a topological ratchet-like local polarity. Rectification is induced by the coupling between electrophoresis, electroosmosis, and dielectrophoresis. The macroscopic velocities of the particles are functions of the electric field and of the geometry of the channel; they strongly depend on their size which opens the way to potential separations.     

Characterization of poly(dimethylsiloxane)-polycarbonate block copolymers

Shear modulus-temperature curves and swelling behavior of poly(dimethylsiloxane)-bisphenol-A polycarbonate block copolymers were studied. Two glass transitions corresponding to the silicone and polycarbonate phases are found. A correlation of the shear modulus between the two glass transitions and the swelling ratio of the rubbery phase is suggested.     

Glass transition in ultrathin polymer films: calorimetric study

The ultrasensitive differential scanning calorimetry is used to observe the glass transition in thin (1-400 nm) spin-cast films of polystyrene, poly (2-vinyl pyridine) and poly (methyl methacrylate) on a platinum surface. A pronounced glass transition is observed even at a thickness as small as 1-3 nm. Using the high heating (20-200 K/ms) and cooling (1-2 K/ms in glass transition region) rates which are typical for this technique, we do not observe appreciable dependence of the glass transition temperature over the thickness range from hundreds of nanometers down to 3 nm thick films. The evolution of calorimetric data with film thickness is discussed in terms of broadening of transition dynamics and loss of transition contrast.