Enhanced Acoustic Mixing in Silicon-Based Chips with Sharp-Edged Micro-Structures
The small dimensions of microfluidic channels allow for fast diffusive or passive mixing, which is beneficial for time-sensitive applications such as chemical reactions, biological assays, and the transport of to-be-detected species to sensors. In microfluidics, the need for fast mixing within milli...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-10-01
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| Series: | Micro |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8023/4/4/36 |
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| author | Mehrnaz Hashemiesfahan Pierre Gelin Han Gardeniers Wim De Malsche |
| author_facet | Mehrnaz Hashemiesfahan Pierre Gelin Han Gardeniers Wim De Malsche |
| author_sort | Mehrnaz Hashemiesfahan |
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| description | The small dimensions of microfluidic channels allow for fast diffusive or passive mixing, which is beneficial for time-sensitive applications such as chemical reactions, biological assays, and the transport of to-be-detected species to sensors. In microfluidics, the need for fast mixing within milliseconds arises primarily because these devices are often used in fields where rapid and efficient mixing significantly impacts the performance and outcome of the processes. Active mixing with acoustics in microfluidic devices involves using acoustic waves to enhance the mixing of fluids within microchannels. Using sharp corners and wall patterns in acoustofluidic devices significantly enhances the mixing by acoustic streaming around these features. The streaming patterns around the sharp edges are particularly effective for the mixing because they can produce strong lateral flows that rapidly homogenize liquids. This work presents extensive characterizations of the effect of sharp-edged structures on acoustic mixing in bulk acoustic wave (BAW) mode in a silicon microdevice. The effect of side wall patterns in different angles and shapes, their positions, the type of piezoelectric transducer, and its amplitude and frequency have been studied. Following the patterning of the channel walls, a mixing time of 25 times faster was reached, compared to channels with smooth side walls exhibiting conventional BAW behavior. The average locally determined acoustic streaming velocity inside the channel becomes 14 times faster if sharp corners of 10° are added to the wall. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7adf94ec590b46b884b3d4d6ba08d253 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-8023 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micro |
| spelling | doaj-art-7adf94ec590b46b884b3d4d6ba08d2532024-12-27T14:40:19ZengMDPI AGMicro2673-80232024-10-014458559810.3390/micro4040036Enhanced Acoustic Mixing in Silicon-Based Chips with Sharp-Edged Micro-StructuresMehrnaz Hashemiesfahan0Pierre Gelin1Han Gardeniers2Wim De Malsche3µFlow Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumµFlow Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumMesoscale Chemical Systems Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, 7500 AE Enschede, The NetherlandsµFlow Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, BelgiumThe small dimensions of microfluidic channels allow for fast diffusive or passive mixing, which is beneficial for time-sensitive applications such as chemical reactions, biological assays, and the transport of to-be-detected species to sensors. In microfluidics, the need for fast mixing within milliseconds arises primarily because these devices are often used in fields where rapid and efficient mixing significantly impacts the performance and outcome of the processes. Active mixing with acoustics in microfluidic devices involves using acoustic waves to enhance the mixing of fluids within microchannels. Using sharp corners and wall patterns in acoustofluidic devices significantly enhances the mixing by acoustic streaming around these features. The streaming patterns around the sharp edges are particularly effective for the mixing because they can produce strong lateral flows that rapidly homogenize liquids. This work presents extensive characterizations of the effect of sharp-edged structures on acoustic mixing in bulk acoustic wave (BAW) mode in a silicon microdevice. The effect of side wall patterns in different angles and shapes, their positions, the type of piezoelectric transducer, and its amplitude and frequency have been studied. Following the patterning of the channel walls, a mixing time of 25 times faster was reached, compared to channels with smooth side walls exhibiting conventional BAW behavior. The average locally determined acoustic streaming velocity inside the channel becomes 14 times faster if sharp corners of 10° are added to the wall.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8023/4/4/36sharp cornersacoustofluidicsfast mixingsilicon microchip |
| spellingShingle | Mehrnaz Hashemiesfahan Pierre Gelin Han Gardeniers Wim De Malsche Enhanced Acoustic Mixing in Silicon-Based Chips with Sharp-Edged Micro-Structures Micro sharp corners acoustofluidics fast mixing silicon microchip |
| title | Enhanced Acoustic Mixing in Silicon-Based Chips with Sharp-Edged Micro-Structures |
| title_full | Enhanced Acoustic Mixing in Silicon-Based Chips with Sharp-Edged Micro-Structures |
| title_fullStr | Enhanced Acoustic Mixing in Silicon-Based Chips with Sharp-Edged Micro-Structures |
| title_full_unstemmed | Enhanced Acoustic Mixing in Silicon-Based Chips with Sharp-Edged Micro-Structures |
| title_short | Enhanced Acoustic Mixing in Silicon-Based Chips with Sharp-Edged Micro-Structures |
| title_sort | enhanced acoustic mixing in silicon based chips with sharp edged micro structures |
| topic | sharp corners acoustofluidics fast mixing silicon microchip |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-8023/4/4/36 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mehrnazhashemiesfahan enhancedacousticmixinginsiliconbasedchipswithsharpedgedmicrostructures AT pierregelin enhancedacousticmixinginsiliconbasedchipswithsharpedgedmicrostructures AT hangardeniers enhancedacousticmixinginsiliconbasedchipswithsharpedgedmicrostructures AT wimdemalsche enhancedacousticmixinginsiliconbasedchipswithsharpedgedmicrostructures |