Conquering the Tyranny of Number With Digital Microfluidics
The development of large-scale integration based on soft lithography has ushered a new revolution in microfluidics. This technology, however, relies inherently on pneumatic control of micromechanical valves that require air pressure to operate, while digital microfluidics uses a purely electrical si...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Chemistry |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2021.676365/full |
| _version_ | 1818832506754957312 |
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| author | Ya-Tang Yang Tsung-Yi Ho |
| author_facet | Ya-Tang Yang Tsung-Yi Ho |
| author_sort | Ya-Tang Yang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The development of large-scale integration based on soft lithography has ushered a new revolution in microfluidics. This technology, however, relies inherently on pneumatic control of micromechanical valves that require air pressure to operate, while digital microfluidics uses a purely electrical signal on an electrode for droplet manipulation. In this article, we discuss the prospect and current challenges of digital microfluidics to solve the problem of the tyranny of numbers in arbitrary fluidic manipulation. We distill the fundamental physics governing electrowetting and their implications for specifications of the control electronics. We survey existing control electronics in digital microfluidics and detail the improvements needed to realize a low-power, programmable digital microfluidic system. Such an instrument would attract wide interest in both professional and non-professional (hobbyist) communities. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T02:04:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f90501f790ca48d9a502c35129d4d173 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2646 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T02:04:07Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Chemistry |
| spelling | doaj.art-f90501f790ca48d9a502c35129d4d1732022-12-21T20:40:59ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Chemistry2296-26462021-05-01910.3389/fchem.2021.676365676365Conquering the Tyranny of Number With Digital MicrofluidicsYa-Tang Yang0Tsung-Yi Ho1Department of Electrical Engineering, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, TaiwanDepartment of Computer Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, TaiwanThe development of large-scale integration based on soft lithography has ushered a new revolution in microfluidics. This technology, however, relies inherently on pneumatic control of micromechanical valves that require air pressure to operate, while digital microfluidics uses a purely electrical signal on an electrode for droplet manipulation. In this article, we discuss the prospect and current challenges of digital microfluidics to solve the problem of the tyranny of numbers in arbitrary fluidic manipulation. We distill the fundamental physics governing electrowetting and their implications for specifications of the control electronics. We survey existing control electronics in digital microfluidics and detail the improvements needed to realize a low-power, programmable digital microfluidic system. Such an instrument would attract wide interest in both professional and non-professional (hobbyist) communities.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2021.676365/fulldigital microfluidicselectrotwettingmicroelectronicselectrowetting on dielectricelectrowdewetting |
| spellingShingle | Ya-Tang Yang Tsung-Yi Ho Conquering the Tyranny of Number With Digital Microfluidics Frontiers in Chemistry digital microfluidics electrotwetting microelectronics electrowetting on dielectric electrowdewetting |
| title | Conquering the Tyranny of Number With Digital Microfluidics |
| title_full | Conquering the Tyranny of Number With Digital Microfluidics |
| title_fullStr | Conquering the Tyranny of Number With Digital Microfluidics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Conquering the Tyranny of Number With Digital Microfluidics |
| title_short | Conquering the Tyranny of Number With Digital Microfluidics |
| title_sort | conquering the tyranny of number with digital microfluidics |
| topic | digital microfluidics electrotwetting microelectronics electrowetting on dielectric electrowdewetting |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fchem.2021.676365/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yatangyang conqueringthetyrannyofnumberwithdigitalmicrofluidics AT tsungyiho conqueringthetyrannyofnumberwithdigitalmicrofluidics |