A Paper-Based Cantilever Beam Mini Actuator Using Hygro-Thermal Response

Abstract

New technological and scientific advances in the development of sensors and actuators demand the development of new devices to deal with recent problems and challenges in these new and emerging processes. Moreover, paper-based devices have tremendous potential for developing actuators as paper exhibits capillary transport and hygroexpansion due to swelling of the fibers when absorbing water. Therefore, this paper proposes a mini actuator that is based on a hygro-thermal-paper-based cantilever beam that is activated by means of a droplet of an aqueous solution in combination with a circulating electrical current to analyze its response. The contribution of this proposal includes the analysis of the flexural response of the mini actuator when it is tested by using two different solutions: distilled water and a water/alcohol solution. Additionally, four cases related to the droplet volume are studied and a statistical analysis of the bending responses is presented. The results achieved show that that water-alcohol solutions have a lower deviation in comparison with water only. Moreover, it is demonstrated that a specific change in the maximum displacement is obtained according to the volume and the type of solution. Thus, it is suggested that the response of the mini actuator can be tuned using different aqueous solutions.

Study of Mechanical Response of Paper-Based Microfluidic System as a Potential Milk Tester

“…Here, a difference with respect to the maximum displacement is reached, and the return to the reference point is completely different from the one obtained in the other samples. Distilled water performance was explained in a previous work [30], where the return to the reference level is explained as a response to the conductive path addition, and water accumulation as a consequence of hygroexpansion in paper fibers. In Figure 10a, milk median displacement is assessed; as it can be seen, a variation among trademarks is observed.…”

Application of Microfluidic Chips in the Detection of Airborne Microorganisms

“…Compared with materials such as silicon and glass, paper chips are cheaper and have the advantages of miniaturization, easy storage and transportation, a low detection background, good biocompatibility and the ability to immobilize biological macromolecules [ 42 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 ]. Microfluidic Paper-based Analytical Devices can also make use of composite materials [ 47 ], valve technology [ 48 ], lightbox and cellphone technology [ 49 ] and optimized device architecture [ 50 ] to enhance detection performance. In recent years, paper chips have been widely used in food safety, environmental residual pollution, pathogen detection and other fields [ 51 ].…”