Structural Stability of Optofluidic Nanostructures in Flow-Through Operation

Optofluidic sensors based on periodic arrays of subwavelength apertures that support surface plasmon resonance can be employed as both optical sensors and nanofluidic structures. In flow-through operation, the nanoapertures experience pressure differences across the substrate in which they are fabri...

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Main Authors: Yazan Bdour, Juan Gomez-Cruz, Carlos Escobedo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2020-04-01
Series:Micromachines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/4/373
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author Yazan Bdour
Juan Gomez-Cruz
Carlos Escobedo
author_facet Yazan Bdour
Juan Gomez-Cruz
Carlos Escobedo
author_sort Yazan Bdour
collection DOAJ
description Optofluidic sensors based on periodic arrays of subwavelength apertures that support surface plasmon resonance can be employed as both optical sensors and nanofluidic structures. In flow-through operation, the nanoapertures experience pressure differences across the substrate in which they are fabricated, which imposes the risk for structural failure. This work presents an investigation of the deflection and structural stability of nanohole array-based optofluidic sensors operating in flow-through mode. The analysis was approached using experiments, simulations via finite element method, and established theoretical models. The results depict that certain areas of the sensor deflect under pressure, with some regions suffering high mechanical stress. The offset in the deflection values between theoretical models and actual experimental values is overturned when only the effective area of the substrate, of 450 µm, is considered. Experimental, theoretical, and simulation results suggest that the periodic nanostructures can safely operate under trans-membrane pressures of up to 20 psi, which induce deflections of up to ~20 μm.
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spelling doaj.art-c7c36572f91d4c65a2a4a7c6e47f64c82023-11-19T20:30:08ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2020-04-0111437310.3390/mi11040373Structural Stability of Optofluidic Nanostructures in Flow-Through OperationYazan Bdour0Juan Gomez-Cruz1Carlos Escobedo2Department of Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, CanadaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, CanadaDepartment of Chemical Engineering, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6, CanadaOptofluidic sensors based on periodic arrays of subwavelength apertures that support surface plasmon resonance can be employed as both optical sensors and nanofluidic structures. In flow-through operation, the nanoapertures experience pressure differences across the substrate in which they are fabricated, which imposes the risk for structural failure. This work presents an investigation of the deflection and structural stability of nanohole array-based optofluidic sensors operating in flow-through mode. The analysis was approached using experiments, simulations via finite element method, and established theoretical models. The results depict that certain areas of the sensor deflect under pressure, with some regions suffering high mechanical stress. The offset in the deflection values between theoretical models and actual experimental values is overturned when only the effective area of the substrate, of 450 µm, is considered. Experimental, theoretical, and simulation results suggest that the periodic nanostructures can safely operate under trans-membrane pressures of up to 20 psi, which induce deflections of up to ~20 μm.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/4/373optofluidicsensorsurface plasmon resonancenanohole arraymechanical propertiesnanofluidic
spellingShingle Yazan Bdour
Juan Gomez-Cruz
Carlos Escobedo
Structural Stability of Optofluidic Nanostructures in Flow-Through Operation
Micromachines
optofluidic
sensor
surface plasmon resonance
nanohole array
mechanical properties
nanofluidic
title Structural Stability of Optofluidic Nanostructures in Flow-Through Operation
title_full Structural Stability of Optofluidic Nanostructures in Flow-Through Operation
title_fullStr Structural Stability of Optofluidic Nanostructures in Flow-Through Operation
title_full_unstemmed Structural Stability of Optofluidic Nanostructures in Flow-Through Operation
title_short Structural Stability of Optofluidic Nanostructures in Flow-Through Operation
title_sort structural stability of optofluidic nanostructures in flow through operation
topic optofluidic
sensor
surface plasmon resonance
nanohole array
mechanical properties
nanofluidic
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/11/4/373
work_keys_str_mv AT yazanbdour structuralstabilityofoptofluidicnanostructuresinflowthroughoperation
AT juangomezcruz structuralstabilityofoptofluidicnanostructuresinflowthroughoperation
AT carlosescobedo structuralstabilityofoptofluidicnanostructuresinflowthroughoperation