Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, Vol.404, 169-178, 2013
One-way wicking in open micro-channels controlled by channel topography
One-way wicking (microfluidic diode) behaviors of a range of IPA-water mixtures on internally structured PDMS-based open micro-channels were experimentally demonstrated and quantified. The open microfluidic channels, each internally decorated with an array of angled fin-like-structure pairs, were fabricated using a combined photolithography and soft molding procedure. Propagations of wetting fluids were found to be much more impeded on the fin-tilting direction, or the hard wicking direction, comparing to the opposite direction, or the easy wicking direction. This asymmetric wicking behaviors were attributed to the structure-induced direction-dependent Laplace pressure. Two key parameters - the contact angle of the wicking fluid and the tilting angle of the fin-like structures - were studied. The effects of preferential evaporation and wetting instability were also investigated. The findings of this study are expected to provide a better understanding of how fluids interact with micro-scaled structures and to offer a new way of manipulating fluids at the micron and nanometer stales. (C) 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords:Directional wicking;Surface-tension effect;Capillarity;Contact angle;Laplace pressure;Three-dimensional meniscus