Pushing the Limits of Electrical Detection of Ultralow Flows in Nanofluidic Channels
This paper presents improvements in flow detection by electrical cross-correlation spectroscopy. This new technique detects molecular number fluctuations of electrochemically active analyte molecules as they are transported by liquid flow through a nanochannel. The fluctuations are used as a marker...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2013-04-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/4/2/138 |
| _version_ | 1818827679644778496 |
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| author | Serge G. Lemay Klaus Mathwig |
| author_facet | Serge G. Lemay Klaus Mathwig |
| author_sort | Serge G. Lemay |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This paper presents improvements in flow detection by electrical cross-correlation spectroscopy. This new technique detects molecular number fluctuations of electrochemically active analyte molecules as they are transported by liquid flow through a nanochannel. The fluctuations are used as a marker of liquid flow as their time of flight in between two consecutive transducers is determined, thereby allowing for the measurement of liquid flow rates in the picoliter-per-minute regime. Here we show an enhanced record-low sensitivity below 1 pL/min by capitalizing on improved electrical instrumentation, an optimized sensor geometry and a smaller channel cross section. We further discuss the impact of sensor geometry on the cross-correlation functions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T00:47:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9033910febb248249d721697420dab74 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T00:47:24Z |
| publishDate | 2013-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj.art-9033910febb248249d721697420dab742022-12-21T20:44:14ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2013-04-014213814810.3390/mi4020138Pushing the Limits of Electrical Detection of Ultralow Flows in Nanofluidic ChannelsSerge G. LemayKlaus MathwigThis paper presents improvements in flow detection by electrical cross-correlation spectroscopy. This new technique detects molecular number fluctuations of electrochemically active analyte molecules as they are transported by liquid flow through a nanochannel. The fluctuations are used as a marker of liquid flow as their time of flight in between two consecutive transducers is determined, thereby allowing for the measurement of liquid flow rates in the picoliter-per-minute regime. Here we show an enhanced record-low sensitivity below 1 pL/min by capitalizing on improved electrical instrumentation, an optimized sensor geometry and a smaller channel cross section. We further discuss the impact of sensor geometry on the cross-correlation functions.http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/4/2/138flow detectionelectrochemical sensornanofluidicscross-correlationnanochannelredox cycling |
| spellingShingle | Serge G. Lemay Klaus Mathwig Pushing the Limits of Electrical Detection of Ultralow Flows in Nanofluidic Channels Micromachines flow detection electrochemical sensor nanofluidics cross-correlation nanochannel redox cycling |
| title | Pushing the Limits of Electrical Detection of Ultralow Flows in Nanofluidic Channels |
| title_full | Pushing the Limits of Electrical Detection of Ultralow Flows in Nanofluidic Channels |
| title_fullStr | Pushing the Limits of Electrical Detection of Ultralow Flows in Nanofluidic Channels |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pushing the Limits of Electrical Detection of Ultralow Flows in Nanofluidic Channels |
| title_short | Pushing the Limits of Electrical Detection of Ultralow Flows in Nanofluidic Channels |
| title_sort | pushing the limits of electrical detection of ultralow flows in nanofluidic channels |
| topic | flow detection electrochemical sensor nanofluidics cross-correlation nanochannel redox cycling |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/4/2/138 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT sergeglemay pushingthelimitsofelectricaldetectionofultralowflowsinnanofluidicchannels AT klausmathwig pushingthelimitsofelectricaldetectionofultralowflowsinnanofluidicchannels |