An embedded obstacle type micromixer-concentration gradient generator based on capillary driven.

Abstract

An embedded obstacle-type micromixer-concentration gradient generator based on capillary self-driven is proposed and studied. Herringbone structure (HS) for mixing and palisade-shape small channels at the outlet are designed in the device (named HS). Simulation and experimentation are done to study the liquid mixing efficiency in the small channels and concentration gradient at the outlet, and the experimental results agree with the simulation results. For three cases of liquid dripping (sequential, reverse, and delayed drippings), mixing analysis shows that the mixing efficiency increases along both mixing channel and palisade length, and is high in the middle small channel of the palisade-shape area and low on both sides. An obvious concentration gradient at the outlet can form compared with the device without the palisade-shape area. Finally, water pH value detection is done as one of the applications of HS. This study can provide guidance for the application of HS in biochemical detection, cell research, drug screening, etc. based on the capillary-driven effect.