• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• 제6권3호
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• pp.402-407
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• 2011

The current paper describes a simpler ground-type, single-plate electrowetting configuration for droplet transport in digital microfluidics without performance degradation. The simplified fabrication process is achieved with two photolithography steps. The first step simultaneously patterns both a control electrode array and a reference electrode on a substrate. The second step patterns a dielectric layer at the top to expose the reference electrode for grounding the liquid droplet. In the experiment, a $5{\mu}m$ thick photo-imageable polyimide, with a 3.3 dielectric constant, is used as the dielectric layer. A 10 nm Teflon-AF is coated to obtain a hydrophobic surface with a high water advancing angle of $116^{\circ}$ and a small contact angle hysteresis of $5^{\circ}$. The droplet movement of 1 mM methylene blue on this simplified device is successfully demonstrated at control voltages above the required 45 V to overcome the contact angle hysteresis.

• 한국정밀공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국정밀공학회 2013년도 춘계학술대회 논문집
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• pp.571-572
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• 2013

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제59권2호
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• pp.247-253
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• 2021

Electrocoalescence is an active technique in petroleum industry, formation of raindrop in cloud, and digital microfluidics. In the present work, electrocoalescence of two droplets under the constant electric potential in air was studied. Through this experiment, we found that the electrocoalescence process could be divided three phases; deformation, formation of liquid bridge, and merging. And the condition for formation of liquid bridge between two droplets was obtained. For the connection of experimental result in constant potential condition with general case in constant charge condition, relationship of charge and potential difference was deduced by numerical computation. In high electric potential case, flat interfaces after recoiling were observed. It was interpreted through a numerical simulation of electric field.

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전산유체공학회 2009년 추계학술대회논문집
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• pp.84-87
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• 2009

Electrowetting is a versatile tool to handle tiny droplets and forms a backbone of digital microfluidics. Numerical analysis is necessary to fully understand the dynamics of electrowetting, especially in designing electrowetting-based devices, such as liquid lenses and reflective displays. We developed a numerical method to analyze the general contact-line problems, incorporating dynamic contact angle models. The method is based on the conservative level set method to capture the interface of two fluids without loss of mass. We applied the method to the analysis of spreading process of a sessile droplet for step input voltages and oscillation of the droplet for alternating input voltages in electrowetting. The result was compared with experimental data. It is shown that contact line friction significantly affects the contact line motion and the oscillation amplitude. The pinning process of contact line was well represented by including the hysteresis effect in the contact angle models.

• Journal of the Optical Society of Korea
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• 제9권3호
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• pp.92-94
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• 2005

We present a novel method for three-dimensional optical memory and microchannel embedded in fused silica glass. Three-dimensional dot patterning with a femtosecond laser pulse and observation with optical microscope are performed. Dot patterns are created by use of a 0.42 N.A. objective to focus 100 fs laser pulses inside the material. We demonstrate data storage with $2{\mu}m$ dot pitch and $7{\mu}m$layer spacing $(36 Gbit/cm^3)$. A three-dimensional microchannel acting as microfluidic and microoptical components is directly fabricated inside a silica glass. The optical micrographs of the microchannel are obtained by a digital camera of a microscope.

• 한국재료학회지
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• 제34권2호
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• pp.63-71
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• 2024

Slipchip offers advantages such as high-throughout, low cost, and simple operation, and therefore, it is one of the technologies with the greatest potential for high-throughput, single-cell, and single-molecule analyses. Slipchip devices have achieved remarkable advances over the past decades, with its simplified molecular diagnostics gaining particular attention, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic and in various infectious diseases scenarios. Medical testing based on nucleic acid amplification in the Slipchip has become a promising alternative simple and rapid diagnostic tool in field situations. Herein, we present a comprehensive review of Slipchip device advances in molecular diagnostics, highlighting its use in digital recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Slipchip technology allows users to conduct reliable droplet transfers with high-throughput potential for single-cell and molecule analyses. This review explores the device's versatility in miniaturized and rapid molecular diagnostics. A complete Slipchip device can be operated without special equipment or skilled handling, and provides high-throughput results in minimum settings. This review focuses on recent developments and Slipchip device challenges that need to be addressed for further advancements in microfluidics technology.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• 제1권4호
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• pp.239-247
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• 2001

The Fluorescence-Activated Cell Sorter (FACS) is a well-established instrument used for identifying, enumerating, classifying and sorting cells by their physical and optical characteristics. For a miniaturized FACS device, a disposable plastic microchip has been developed which has a hydrodynamic focusing chamber using soft lithography. As the characteristics of the spatially confined sample stream have an effect on sample throughput, detection efficiency, and the accuracy of cell sorting, systematic fluid dynamic studies are required. Flow visualization is conducted with a laser scanning confocal microscopy (LSCM), and three-dimensional flow structure of the focused sample stream is reconstructed from 2D slices acquired at $1\mutextrm{m}$ intervals in depth. It was observed that the flow structure in the focusing chamber is skewed by unsymmetrical velocity profile arising from trapezoidal cross section of the microchannel. For a quantitative analysis of a microscopic flow structure, Confocal Micro-PIV system has been developed to evaluate the accelerated flow field in the focusing chamber. This study proposes a method which defines the depth of the measurement volume using a detection pinhole. The trajectories of red blood cells (RBCs) and their interactions with surrounding flow field in the squeezed sample stream are evaluated to find optimal shape of the focusing chamber and fluid manipulation scheme for stable cell transporting, efficient detection, and sorting

• 한국전산유체공학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국전산유체공학회 2010년 춘계학술대회논문집
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• pp.551-555
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• 2010

Electrowetting is a versatile tool to handle tiny droplets and forms a backbone of digital microfluidics. Numerical analysis is necessary to fully understand the dynamics of electrowetting, especially in designing electrowetting-based devices, such as liquid lenses and reflective displays. We developed a numerical method to analyze the general contact-line problems, incorporating dynamic contact angle models. The method is based on the conservative level set method to capture the interface of two fluids without loss of mass. We applied the method to the analysis of spreading process of a sessile droplet for step input voltages and oscillation of the droplet for alternating input voltages in electrowetting. The result was compared with experimental data. It is shown that contact line friction significantly affects the contact line motion and the oscillation amplitude. The pinning process of contact line was well represented by including the hysteresis effect in the contact angle models. In level set method, in the mean time, material properties are made to change smoothly across an interface of two materials with different properties by introducing an interpolation or smoothing scheme. So far, the weighted arithmetic mean (WAM) method has been exclusively adopted in level set method, without complete assessment for its validity. We viscosity, thermal conductivity, electrical conductivity, and permittivity, can be an alternative. I.e., the WHM gives more accurate results than the WAM method in certain circumstances. The interpolation scheme should be selected considering various characteristics including type of property, ratio of property of two fluids, geometry of interface, and so on.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제57권5호
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• pp.706-713
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• 2019

본 연구에서는 미세유체 시스템 제작에 적합한 3D 프린팅 방식 및 소재 별 표면특성 분석을 통해 각 응용 사례에 적합한 프린터 및 소재 선정에 가이드라인을 줄 수 있는 기초 연구를 수행하였다. 가장 보편적으로 사용되는 적층 방식과 해상도가 상대적으로 높은 광경화 방식에 대해 프린팅 방식과 소재에 따른 표면 특성을 살펴보았다. 적층 방식의 프린트물은 소재에 무관하게 후처리 전에는 친수성 특성을 보이나 아세톤 증기에 의한 후처리 후에는 소수성 특성을 보임을 확인할 수 있었다. SEM을 이용한 표면 조도 관찰을 통해 이러한 접촉각의 변화가 후처리에 의한 표면의 결 구조의 제거에 기인한 것임을 확인하였다. 광경화식 프린트물은 적층식 대비 친수성의 특성을 보였으나 소수성 코팅을 이용해 표면 개질이 가능함을 실험적으로 확인하였다. 두 프린팅 방식 중 투명한 재질이 요구되는 경우, 적층 방식은 투명한 시편을 만드는 것이 불가능함을 확인하였으며 광경화 방식의 경우 충분한 투명도가 확보됨을 확인하였다. 액적 접촉충전 현상에 기반한 디지털 전기천공 시스템의 electroporation chip을 광경화 방식으로 제작하였으며 성공적으로 전기천공을 시연함으로써 미세유체 시스템에 직접 적용이 가능함 또한 확인하였다.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• 제62권1호
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• pp.105-111
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• 2024

SLA (Stereo Lithography Apparatus) 방식은 액체 상태의 광경화성 레진(Resin)이 자외선 레이저에 닿으면 고체가 되는 원리를 활용한 3D 프린팅 방식으로 다양한 분야에서의 활용도가 증가하고 있다. 본 연구에서는 이 SLA 3D 프린팅 출력물의 표면 특성 중 소수성과 투명도를 개선하여 미세 유체 시스템의 제작에 활용하기 위한 기초 연구를 수행하였다. SLA 출력물은 소수성 코팅 방법을 이용해 표면 소수성의 특성을 개선할 수 있었으나, 소수성 코팅 방법의 종류에 따라 다양한 환경에서의 코팅 유지력은 차이를 보였다. 또한, 미세 유체 시스템의 제작에 요구되는 충분한 투명도와 소수성의 특성을 함께 확보하기 위해 선행된 연구에서 제안한 투명도 확보 방법에 소수성 코팅을 적용하여 접촉각의 변화를 비교하였다. Teflon 코팅법이 이산화 티타늄 코팅법과 비교하여 우수한 투명도의 확보가 가능하며, 다양한 환경에 노출되었을 때 높은 코팅의 유지력을 가져 미세 유체 시스템의 제작에 활용되기에 적합한 소수성 코팅법으로 제안되었다. 마지막으로 본 연구를 통해 제안된 미세 유체 시스템의 제작에 적합한 소수성 코팅 방법인 Teflon 코팅법 중 Fluoropel 800을 이용하여 디지털 미세 유체 시스템 중 하나인 액적 접촉 충전 현상(Electrophoresis of Charged Droplet, ECD) 칩을 SLA 3D 프린팅으로 제작, 액적의 조작을 성공적으로 시연함으로써 SLA 3D 프린팅 기술의 미세 유체 시스템의 제작에 활용 가능성을 확인하였다.