Performance characteristics of a polypyrrole modified polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane based microfluidic pump

Jung Ho Kim, King Tong Lau, Rod Shepherd, Yanzhe Wu, Gordon Wallace, Dermot Diamond

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

46 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this paper, we present a low-cost, low-voltage and low-power polypyrrole-membrane microfluidic pump with two one-way push button check valves. This polymeric microfluidic pump is fabricated with a conductive polymer (polypyrrole) modified poly dimethylsiloxane (PDMS) membrane encased into a poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA) structure. The pumping action is induced by an electrochemical actuated PPy-PDMS membrane while check valves at the inlet and outlet control the flow direction in the respective pump phases. This pump is self-priming. Accurate control of the output flow rate can be obtained by changing the actuation frequency. With this pump, a maximum pumping rate of 52 μL/min was achieved using an input power of 55 mW operated at ±1.5 V.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)239-244
Number of pages6
JournalSensors and Actuators, A: Physical
Volume148
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 4 Nov 2008
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Electrochemical actuator
  • Microfluidic
  • Micropump
  • Polypyrrole

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