Electrokinetically driven fluidic transport in integrated three-dimensional microfluidic devices incorporating gold-coated nanocapillary array membranes†
Abstract
Electrokinetically driven fluid transport was evaluated within three-dimensional hybrid nanofluidic–microfluidic devices incorporating Au-coated nanocapillary array membranes (NCAMs). Gold NCAMs, prepared by electroless gold deposition on polymeric track-etched membranes, were susceptible to gas bubble formation if the interfacial potential difference exceeded ∼2 V along the length of the gold region. Gold membranes were etched to yield 250 μm wide coated regions that overlap the intersection of two orthogonal microfluidic channels in order to minimize gas evolution. The kinetics of electrolysis of