Dolomite,
world leader in microfluidic design and manufacture has significantly increased
its offering with the ability to integrate metal electrodes into its range of
glass and polymer microfluidic chips. A wide variety of geometries can be created
such as interdigitated electrodes, heaters and temperature sensors. Applications
include impedance detection and temperature control in microreactors and generation
of electrical fields for dielectrophoresis. With its excellent chemical- and
heat-resistant properties, platinum is most frequently used as an electrode
material.
Normally between 50nm and 1µm thick, a wide range of metals can be deposited
onto the microfluidic glass or polymer chips, including gold, copper, titanium
and chrome. Metal feature size can be as small as 2 µm. Furthermore, metal
layers can also be deposited on the inside surface of the micro-channels. Applications
requiring this type of deposition include optical flow cells where the metal
layer acts as an optical light guide or mirror to reflect the light beam, and
in catalytic reaction chips where the metal surface can be used to promote chemical
reactions.
"With this metal electrode integration, we are able to offer our customers
a different kind of microfluidic chip, expanding the range of applications for
which microfluidics can be used", said Mike Hawes, Dolomite's Head
of Marketing. He continued, "With a truly extensive range of standard
or customised microfluidic components, Dolomite has positioned itself as an
industry leader equipped to meet the needs of any company seeking to reap the
benefits of microfluidic technology".
Along with Dolomite's advanced capabilities in integrated metal electrodes
for microfluidic chips, Dolomite also provide microfluidic devices and instruments
in areas such as point of care systems, drug delivery and a wide range of biotech
applications.