Cost-effective fast prototyping using a dry film photoresist for micromixers towards point-of-care devices

Abstract

This paper deals with a novel structure of serpentine micromixer with its high mixing efficiency and its fabrication of soft photolithography molds using dry film photoresist as an alternative to the conventional liquid photoresist, such as SU-8. This method provides simplification, significant time-savings, low cost due to non-cleanroom setting and less toxic developer solution. In this paper, the design, simulation, fabrication and experimental analysis of the passive micromixers have been presented. The mixing efficiency of the chip was implemented by using of micro-barrier structure along its meander microchannel. The serpentine structures with and without embedded grooves on their micro sidewalls were designed and compared together in order to prove good mixing performance. Experimental measurements were introduced using white and green food dyes as the mixing fluids. The mixing efficiencies of micromixers were determined and compared in the analytical model and the mixing test. It was found that grooved structures significantly enhanced the performance of the serpentine micromixers due to induce perturbations in the flow field. By optimizing the design of the serpentine micromixers equipped with embedded grooves under its simple fabrication method making this study a promising solution for a wide variety of application.