Dispensing nano-pico droplets and liquid patterning by pyroelectrodynamic shooting

Year: 2010

Authors: Ferraro P., Coppola S., Grilli S., Paturzo M., Vespini V.

Autors Affiliation: CNR – Istituto Nazionale di Ottica, Via Campi Flegrei 34, 80078 Pozzuoli (NA), Italy

Abstract: Manipulating and dispensing liquids on the micrometre- and nanoscale is important in biotechnology and combinatorial chemistry, and also for patterning inorganic, organic and biological inks. Several methods for dispensing liquids exist, but many require complicated electrodes and high-voltage circuits. Here, we show a simple way to draw attolitre liquid droplets from one or multiple sessile drops or liquid film reservoirs using a pyroelectrohydrodynamic dispenser. Local pyroelectric forces, which are activated by scanning a hot tip or an infrared laser beam over a lithium niobate substrate, draw liquid droplets from the reservoir below the substrate, and deposit them on the underside of the lithium niobate substrate. The shooting direction is altered by moving the hot tip or laser to form various patterns at different angles and locations. Our system does not require electrodes, nozzles or circuits, and is expected to have many applications in biochemical assays and various transport and mixing processes.

Journal/Review: NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY

Volume: 5 (6)      Pages from: 429  to: 435

More Information: The authors acknowledge financial support from grant CNR-RSTL (Ricerca Spontanea a Tema Libero) no. 3004 ’Realizzazione e caratterizzazione di nanostrutture ordinate in cristalli ferroelettrici per la fotonica e studio delle funzionalita’ and Grant ’Intesa di programma MIUR/CNR per il Mezzogiorno’.
KeyWords: Electrowetting-based Actuation; Electrostatic Manipulation; Drops; Fluid; Hybridization; Evaporation; Stability; Emission; Pendant; Surface
DOI: 10.1038/NNANO.2010.82

ImpactFactor: 30.324
Citations: 233
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