2019 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report
Microfluidic flow in printed fracture channel
| Project/Area Number |
19F19329
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| Research Institution | Kyoto University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha) |
GIBBONS ANDREW 京都大学, 高等研究院, 外国人特別研究員
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| Project Period (FY) |
2019-10-11 – 2022-03-31
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| Keywords | Expanded film size of OM / Microfluidic flow in OM / Improved OM on plastic / Shared OM with community |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
In the first project year, beginning in 2019, I made an effort of communicating my research to the academic and technology industries, presenting my method for making porous polymer films, Organized Microfibrillation (OM). The main applications of OM are microfluidics and high resolution images. I attended IDTechEX in California, a technology expo, to present OM to biotech industry experts and academics. I was invited to the Chemistry department at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland to give a talk on OM and polymer chemistry/physics involved. I also gave a talk on OM to a microfluidics consortium hosted by CFBI at Imperial College.
My research focused on developing OM for microfluidics and high resolution images. I have tested OM films for microfluidic flow with small scale patterns such as lines, as well as complex high resolution pattens created by microLED, with some good progress. I have identified suitable liquids for liquid flow in OM though I have had limited success achieving flow with water, a main goal for microfluidic applications.
At the beginning of the project, OM films were limited to centimeter sizes. I have explored methods for increasing the size of OM films. I have achieved success using bar coating and can make OM on clear A4 plastic sheets. This greatly increases the practicality of OM for different applications. I have also explored how to increase control over OM film internal geometry but with minimal success.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.
Reason
Progress in performing research on OM was delayed by restricted laboratory access due to the COVID-19 pandemic. University rules restricted lab work to essential activities only.
Aside from the pandemic, I have not yet been able to achieve flow of water within the OM films, though flow of different liquid types has been achieved. Demonstration of some OM microfluidic capabilities depends on water flow.
Another delay has been achieving good color control in a range of polymers. The mechanical properties of different plastics has a larger impact than I expected, restricting color range. Varying some key method parameters has not improved the color control.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
There are a number of plans for expanding the capabilities of OM and overcoming some of the current challenges:
1)To achieve water flow, different classes of polymer will be tested and a range of surfactant additives will be tried. Hydrophilic polymers are a good candidate but have a challenge of adjusting other chemicals used in the OM method.
2)To achieve wider color control, different photoinitiator additives will be used, with sensitivity to larger wavelengths of light. Plasticizers will be used to alter the film mechanical properties to achieve different geometries and color.
3)To improve pattern and image creation with OM, optical systems including projectors and lenses will be used to improve flexibility of creating high resolution patterns over a large area. Laser holography techniques will be used to improve control over the OM process.
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