Stimuli-responsive gel based microfluidic switch
Lead Research Organisation:
Northumbria University
Department Name: Fac of Engineering and Environment
Abstract
Elastic instabilities such as buckling, wrinkling and creasing of surfaces, and snapping transitions have historically represented mechanical failure in thin films. However, this does not have to be the case and elastic instabilities, particularly on soft polymer surfaces, can provide reversible control, sensing or actuation in response to well-defined signals or changes in their environment. In previous work, I have shown that surface instabilities can be electrically triggered on a gel surface supported by specifically designed underlying electrodes. The demonstrated actuation required a low voltage of 2 - 4 V. (Adv Mater. Vol 25, 2013) and a rapid actuation was also obtained with response times less than 1 second. This project uses the above insights together with my established understanding and experience in surface instability (mechanics) and materials science to produce a robust electric voltage controlled switch to regulate the liquid flow in a micro-channel.
Practically, the project will focus on understanding a hydrogel based micro-system that will allow quantitative determination of the following: i) the conditions under which buckling occurs and how the onset of buckling depends on the materials properties of the soft surface, the environmental parameters (Ionic values, temperature, pH values) and the electrode geometries; ii) how the morphology of buckling relates to the materials properties of the soft surface, the initial swelling state prior to the actuation, and the electrode geometries; iii) how to trim the buckled shape of the gel layer to effectively control the fluid flow in a micro-environment. Using the understanding from these experiments, a responsive gel based switch will be developed to dynamically regulate the liquid flow in a micro-channel.
The work of this project is cross disciplinary and includes mechanics, materials science and micro-engineering. A range of materials innovations will be used from lithographically produced structural electrodes to gel chemistry. The passive valve technology with an 'on-demand' actuation described in this project is situated in a broad scientific context (chemistry, applied physics, chemical-physics, micro-engineering, chemical engineering, and electro-chemistry). The project will provide the understanding needed to allow future development of novel micro-fluidic devices with high integratibility and automation of liquid flow.
Practically, the project will focus on understanding a hydrogel based micro-system that will allow quantitative determination of the following: i) the conditions under which buckling occurs and how the onset of buckling depends on the materials properties of the soft surface, the environmental parameters (Ionic values, temperature, pH values) and the electrode geometries; ii) how the morphology of buckling relates to the materials properties of the soft surface, the initial swelling state prior to the actuation, and the electrode geometries; iii) how to trim the buckled shape of the gel layer to effectively control the fluid flow in a micro-environment. Using the understanding from these experiments, a responsive gel based switch will be developed to dynamically regulate the liquid flow in a micro-channel.
The work of this project is cross disciplinary and includes mechanics, materials science and micro-engineering. A range of materials innovations will be used from lithographically produced structural electrodes to gel chemistry. The passive valve technology with an 'on-demand' actuation described in this project is situated in a broad scientific context (chemistry, applied physics, chemical-physics, micro-engineering, chemical engineering, and electro-chemistry). The project will provide the understanding needed to allow future development of novel micro-fluidic devices with high integratibility and automation of liquid flow.
Planned Impact
1.Knowledge and Techniques
Using responsive materials-based passive valves to regulate fluid flow has the potential to bring a high degree of integration and automation to micro-fluidic device design, by reducing additional macroscopic moving parts and creating an easy-to-integrate platform with microelectrodes on a silicon substrate. The scientific and technical key to the proposed method is to electrically actuate an elastic buckling instability to translate in-plane strain energy into out-of-plane displacements/deformation of the gel. The project is based on an existing scientific phenomenon - surface instability, whose fundamental science has been understood during the last decade. New knowledge on the electro-actuation of surface buckling will lead to a better understanding of how to control surface instabilities, thus this approach will greatly accelerate translation to industrial products. From a wider technological perspective, the electro-buckling induced passive valve technique in this project can offer rapid switching to control flow in a micro-channel. It will provide a proof of concept for a high performance integrated microfluidic system as a key unit, in terms of the improved efficiency, low cost, and improved automation. Creating a method to integrate a passive valve by adopting electro-active materials is promising for controlling fluid flow within multifunctional chip devices, with potential development of the products in biology, tissue engineering, chemical engineering, etc.
2.Economic Impact (Direct and Indirect User Collaborations)
A key priority for the UK economy is the development of high-value and specialist manufacturing, underpinned by research which is often inherently multidisciplinary and disruptive. My industrial collaborator Reece Innovation, part of Reece Group Ltd (including Pearson Engineering, Responsive Engineering Group and Velocity UK Ltd), is focused on developing innovatively engineered products for new markets. The companies in the wider Reece Group have interests in subsea, oil and gas, and defence technologies, all of which have products related to the areas of materials science and micro-engineering in this project. Reece Innovation is based in Newcastle and develops long term engagements with Universities rather than single project collaborations. Our partners' global network of clients and suppliers will ensure the project has international reach and impact. Reece Innovation will bring industrial insight to the project and ensure benefits from any IPR can be quickly identified and exploited. They are also potential partners for future spin-off projects funded directly (under non-disclosure agreements), via Innovate UK/Technology Strategy Board (via KTPs or otherwise) or with other partners in, for example, EU Horizon 2020 projects. Where there are no concerns relating to IPR/NDAs, I will publicize and disseminate work via presentations at KTN events, publication of research, and presentation at national/international conferences.
3.People Pipeline and Public Engagement
The training of the postdoctoral researcher and a university funded PhD student with skills relevant to high value manufacturing will benefit both the individuals and UK industry. The experience gained will include (i) clean-room techniques, (ii) materials, (iii) measurement and instrumentation, (iv) microfluidics, (v) mechanics, and (vi) device design and fabrication. They will receive training in public understanding and engagement, and will be involved in exhibition and outreach work through Think Physics (https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/academic-departments/physics-and-electrical-engineering/thinkphysics/) from an early stage. This will benefit the individuals and also attract wider interest from the public by promoting the spirit of science and highlighting everyday impacts which arise from this research.
Using responsive materials-based passive valves to regulate fluid flow has the potential to bring a high degree of integration and automation to micro-fluidic device design, by reducing additional macroscopic moving parts and creating an easy-to-integrate platform with microelectrodes on a silicon substrate. The scientific and technical key to the proposed method is to electrically actuate an elastic buckling instability to translate in-plane strain energy into out-of-plane displacements/deformation of the gel. The project is based on an existing scientific phenomenon - surface instability, whose fundamental science has been understood during the last decade. New knowledge on the electro-actuation of surface buckling will lead to a better understanding of how to control surface instabilities, thus this approach will greatly accelerate translation to industrial products. From a wider technological perspective, the electro-buckling induced passive valve technique in this project can offer rapid switching to control flow in a micro-channel. It will provide a proof of concept for a high performance integrated microfluidic system as a key unit, in terms of the improved efficiency, low cost, and improved automation. Creating a method to integrate a passive valve by adopting electro-active materials is promising for controlling fluid flow within multifunctional chip devices, with potential development of the products in biology, tissue engineering, chemical engineering, etc.
2.Economic Impact (Direct and Indirect User Collaborations)
A key priority for the UK economy is the development of high-value and specialist manufacturing, underpinned by research which is often inherently multidisciplinary and disruptive. My industrial collaborator Reece Innovation, part of Reece Group Ltd (including Pearson Engineering, Responsive Engineering Group and Velocity UK Ltd), is focused on developing innovatively engineered products for new markets. The companies in the wider Reece Group have interests in subsea, oil and gas, and defence technologies, all of which have products related to the areas of materials science and micro-engineering in this project. Reece Innovation is based in Newcastle and develops long term engagements with Universities rather than single project collaborations. Our partners' global network of clients and suppliers will ensure the project has international reach and impact. Reece Innovation will bring industrial insight to the project and ensure benefits from any IPR can be quickly identified and exploited. They are also potential partners for future spin-off projects funded directly (under non-disclosure agreements), via Innovate UK/Technology Strategy Board (via KTPs or otherwise) or with other partners in, for example, EU Horizon 2020 projects. Where there are no concerns relating to IPR/NDAs, I will publicize and disseminate work via presentations at KTN events, publication of research, and presentation at national/international conferences.
3.People Pipeline and Public Engagement
The training of the postdoctoral researcher and a university funded PhD student with skills relevant to high value manufacturing will benefit both the individuals and UK industry. The experience gained will include (i) clean-room techniques, (ii) materials, (iii) measurement and instrumentation, (iv) microfluidics, (v) mechanics, and (vi) device design and fabrication. They will receive training in public understanding and engagement, and will be involved in exhibition and outreach work through Think Physics (https://www.northumbria.ac.uk/about-us/academic-departments/physics-and-electrical-engineering/thinkphysics/) from an early stage. This will benefit the individuals and also attract wider interest from the public by promoting the spirit of science and highlighting everyday impacts which arise from this research.
People |
ORCID iD |
BEN XU (Principal Investigator) | http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6747-2016 |
Publications
Kong L
(2018)
T-Nb2O5 nanoparticle enabled pseudocapacitance with fast Li-ion intercalation.
in Nanoscale
Li B
(2022)
Effects of Nano-Barium Sulfate on the Properties of Polybutylece Terephthalate/Polyethylene Terephthalate Composites
in ES Materials & Manufacturing
Li F
(2023)
Morphology controllable urchin-shaped bimetallic nickel-cobalt oxide/carbon composites with enhanced electromagnetic wave absorption performance
in Journal of Materials Science & Technology
Li W
(2022)
Conformally anodizing hierarchical structure in a deformed tube towards energy-saving liquid transportation
in Chemical Engineering Journal
Li X
(2023)
Progress of layered double hydroxide-based materials for supercapacitors
in Materials Chemistry Frontiers
Li Y
(2017)
Responsive Hydrogels Based Lens Structure with Configurable Focal Length for Intraocular Lens (IOLs) Application
in Macromolecular Symposia
Li Z
(2020)
A stimuli-responsive gel impregnated surface with switchable lipophilic/oleophobic properties.
in Soft matter
Description | The significance of this new strategy to configure harmonic surface pattern is illustrated by its selection as a cover for Advanced Functional Materials. It won a Eureka and Discovery prize in EPSRC science photo competition 2016 (media presses in Guardian, NECONNECTED,THE GLOBAL AND MAIL) and a student presentation award (2017) and a student poster award (2018) at the Society of Chemical Industry-CSCST Conferences. It also leads an innovative actuator design that undergoes stepwise shape changes to be used in micro-fluidics. The soft smart materials technology has been recently developed into a novel flexible optical sensing technology in Nature Communications (2020) which was highlighted by |EPSRC|Materials World|Materials views china|phys.org|NECONNECTED. |
Exploitation Route | New RGCI applications and INNOVATE UK bids, |
Sectors | Energy Healthcare Manufacturing including Industrial Biotechology Other |
URL | https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20200930154033/https://epsrc.ukri.org/newsevents/news/researchers-discover-novel-optical-sensing-technology/ |
Description | The novel approach from this grant enable the sensing/actuation function by introducing elastic instabilities into the micro-engineered structure in a controllable manner, which shed extra lights in developing future micro-devices, especially in the sectors of flexible/wearable electronics, micro-robots, etc. New knowledge on soft lithography and polymer based micro-channel techniques generated in EP/N007921 (TRL 1-3) has been transformed into a successful KTP grant with Palintest in Newcastle (KTP010913), to advance the research at higher TRLs (TRL 5-9). The further development of this grant has lead to a Northern Accelerator Proof of Concept grant to develop innovative cooling technology. The work led to the award of a grant from Zhengzhou Sanli Ltd to develop novel soft robotic technologies (£70k, 2019), EPSRC UKFN short research visit grant to Manchester (2019) to collaboratively develop next generation wearable electronics and Qiaotou Ltd to develop paper based micro-electronics technologies (£80k, 2021). The work led to the award of a grant from ICURe from Warwick University, to develop novel micro-fluidic based cooling technologies (OptimumAirCon, £85k, 2022). |
First Year Of Impact | 2022 |
Sector | Chemicals,Electronics,Energy,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Transport |
Impact Types | Societal Economic |
Description | 2D Plasmonic Binary Superlattice Film based Flexible Bio-Sensor |
Amount | £12,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | IEC\NSFC\201126 |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2021 |
End | 03/2023 |
Description | Innovate UK KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER PARTNERSHIP project |
Amount | £137,988 (GBP) |
Funding ID | KTP010913 |
Organisation | Innovate UK |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2018 |
End | 06/2020 |
Description | Kan Tong Po International Fellowship 2019 |
Amount | £2,970 (GBP) |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 09/2019 |
End | 04/2020 |
Description | The Royal Society Research grant |
Amount | £14,600 (GBP) |
Funding ID | Research Grant-RG150662 |
Organisation | The Royal Society |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2016 |
End | 03/2017 |
Description | Advanced materials and mechanics research |
Organisation | ORE Catapult |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | In this collaboration, Professor Xu are carrying research into topics include: 1) Subsea dynamic cable degradation mechanism understanding to fill one of the most critical floating wind knowledge gap; 2) Adaptive blade recycle technique that optimised for large composite material structures. |
Collaborator Contribution | ORE Catapult has collaborated with Ben over the past few years benefiting from his expertise and knowledge on numerous research projects. These were progressed as funded feasibility studies or as part of our strategic collaboration plan. We hope this regional partnership, via Innovation Launchpad Network+, could create a flagship platform in the field of Functional Materials for Offshore Renewable Energy research. |
Impact | The strategic collaboration between Ben XU and ORE Catapult has led to a few projects, 1. A impact project of 'Sustainable and Transformative Structural Energy Engineering', for the impact workshop. (£ 15k funded by ORE Catapult, total project size is £45k, 2022-2023). The pitch is an impact carrier (affiliate to the STEM framework in Northumbria) to demonstrate the knowledge and technique from Off-shore renewable energy. This pitch will enhance the project described in this proposal. 2. A collaborative PhD studentship - 'Design and optimisation of reliable electrode for high-performance hydrogen production under fluctuating power supply' (£ 55k funded by ORE Catapult, total £126 k, 2022-2025), TRL 1-2. This is a PhD training programme. |
Start Year | 2020 |
Description | Durham University |
Organisation | Durham University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Delivery of EP/N007921/1 Stimuli-responsive gel based microfluidic switch |
Collaborator Contribution | Materials, Access to cleanroom facilities |
Impact | Early stages of project |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | Reece Innovation Ltd |
Organisation | Reece Innovation Ltd |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | Delivery of EP/N007921/1 Stimuli-responsive gel based microfluidic switch |
Collaborator Contribution | Materials, test cells and substrates R&D meetings and exploitation advice |
Impact | Early stages of project |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | 2016 Conference - British Council Researcher Links - Energy & Environment workshop |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | British Council Researcher Links - Energy & Environment workshop, Xi'an, China, July 2016 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | 2016 Conference - The 15th European Mechanics of Materials Conference (EMMC15) |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The 15th European Mechanics of Materials Conference (EMMC15), Brussels, Belgium, September 2016. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | http://sites.uclouvain.be/emmc15/ |
Description | 2016 Conference - The international polymer network group conference (PNG2016), |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | The international polymer network group conference (PNG2016), Stockholm, Sweden, Jun 2016. (TALK) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
URL | https://www.png2016.conf.kth.se |
Description | 2016 Seminar - Department of CEAM at Newcastle University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Newcastle University, CEAM, Nov. 2016. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | 2016 Seminar - Department of Chemistry at University of Hull |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | University of Hull, Chemistry, Nov.2016. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | 2016 Seminar - Frontier Institute of Science and Technology at Xi'an Jiaotong University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Xi'an Jiaotong University, Frontier Institute of Science and Technology, Jul 2016. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | 2016 Seminar - School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Queen's University Belfast |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Queen's University Belfast, School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Apr 2016. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | 2017 Conference - Materials chemistry 2017 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | A talk to report the findings in this project, Materials chemistry 2017, Liverpool, July 2017. (TALK) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | 2017 Conference - The 24th Annual CSCST-SCI Conference Joint with UKFN SIG symposium |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Chair of The 24th Annual CSCST-SCI Conference Joint with UKFN SIG symposium (2017) in Northumbria. Newcastle, UK |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | 2017 Seminar - Department of Physics at Nottingham Trent University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Nottingham Trent University, Department of Physics, Janu. 2017. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | 2017 Seminar - Haerbin institute of technology |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | A talk to report the progress in Haerbin institute of technology, Centre for Composite Materials and Structures, Aug 2017. This visit leads to the bid on Newton Advanced Fellowships 2018 Round 1 - NAF\R1\180004 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | 2017 Seminar - Shanghai Jiaotong University, |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | a talk in Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Apr. 2017. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | 2017 Seminar - University of Edinburgh |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | University of Edinburgh, School of Engineering, Apr. 2017 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | 2017 Seminar - Xi'an Jiaotong University |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | A talk to report the progress in Xi'an Jiaotong University, Frontier Institute of Science and Technology, Aug 2017.This visit lead to the joint application on Researcher Links Workshop Grant: 2017-RLWK9-10834, and International Exchanges Cost share (China) Application- IEC\NSFC\170073 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | 2017 Workshop- British Council Researcher Links workshop in Nanjing, China |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
Results and Impact | A talk for British Council Researcher Links workshop, Nanjing University, China, Sept. 2017. (TALK) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | 2017 conference - MRS Fall Meeting in Boston, US |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | A talk in MRS Fall Meeting 2017, Boston, US, DEC 2017. (Poster) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | IEEE International Flexible Electronics Technology Conference, Ottawa, Canada, Aug. 2018. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | Active researchers and students are attended, we are awarded Outstanding paper award for IEEE International Flexible Electronics Technology Conference |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | The Silk Road International Symposium for Distinguished Young Scholars, Xi'an, China, Apr. 2018. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Please see the report in https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Ck1gCTsx89oPPq5Y0Y55yA |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/Ck1gCTsx89oPPq5Y0Y55yA |
Description | the 25th annual conference for The Chinese Society of Chemical Science and Technology in Manchester |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | 3rd presentation award and poster award in the 25th annual conference for The Chinese Society of Chemical Science and Technology |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |