05 April 2014. Our manuscript "Digital Optofluidics: LED-Gated Transport and Fusion of Microliter-Sized Organic Droplets for Chemical Synthesis" has just been accepted in Langmuir.
Abstract: Microdroplet-based organic syntheses have been developed as a valuable alternative to traditional bulk-based methods. However, unlike their water counterparts, organic microdroplets can prove challenging to manipulate. Here, we describe the first optical manipulation of discrete, nL- to µL-sized apolar droplets floating on a liquid surface to induce on-demand droplet fusion for organic synthesis. We demonstrate droplet transport on cm-scale distances at speeds of 0.1 to 1 mm s-1, with well-programmable, sequential or parallel, fusion events. As our strategy is compatible with most usual hydrocarbon solvents, such droplets can be used as micro-compartments for reagents. Organic reactions readily occur upon droplet fusion, as demonstrated with an ene-reaction. With a LED as sole power source, and without any fabrication step, optical set-up, pump nor electrode implementation, our method provides a robust and versatile way to place digital organic chemistry under optical control.
Reference:
Abstract: Microdroplet-based organic syntheses have been developed as a valuable alternative to traditional bulk-based methods. However, unlike their water counterparts, organic microdroplets can prove challenging to manipulate. Here, we describe the first optical manipulation of discrete, nL- to µL-sized apolar droplets floating on a liquid surface to induce on-demand droplet fusion for organic synthesis. We demonstrate droplet transport on cm-scale distances at speeds of 0.1 to 1 mm s-1, with well-programmable, sequential or parallel, fusion events. As our strategy is compatible with most usual hydrocarbon solvents, such droplets can be used as micro-compartments for reagents. Organic reactions readily occur upon droplet fusion, as demonstrated with an ene-reaction. With a LED as sole power source, and without any fabrication step, optical set-up, pump nor electrode implementation, our method provides a robust and versatile way to place digital organic chemistry under optical control.
Reference:
Digital Optofluidics: LED-Gated Transport and Fusion of Microliter-Sized Organic Droplets for Chemical Synthesis
A. Venancio-Marques, D. Baigl*
Langmuir 2014, doi : 10.1021/la5001254
- doi : 10.1021/la5001254