Geomaterial‐Functionalized Microfluidic Devices Using a Universal Surface Modification Approach

Abstract

The layer‐by‐layer (LbL) self‐assembly technique is used to coat the surface of flow channels in microfluidic chips with geomaterials. The surface modifications diminish the discrepancy between the surface chemistry of synthesized microfluidic devices and those of underground porous rocks. Hence, the use of visual models and, in particular, microfluidic devices is broadened to simulate the multiphase flows and fluid–solid interactions in actual rocks. Glass and quartz substrates are successfully coated with silicon dioxide (SiO2), bentonite, and montmorillonite. On‐chip functionalization of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and glass micromodels with SiO2 is also accomplished. The functionalized coatings using confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and contact angle measurements are characterized. The surface modification technique is shown to be material‐independent, which generates a hydrophilic surface. The surface‐coated chips, functionalized by clay particles, are utilized to illustrate the role of water salinity on oil displacement.

Dual Stimuli-Responsive Pickering Emulsions from Novel Magnetic Hydroxyapatite Nanoparticles and Their Characterization Using a Microfluidic Platform

“…The stability of petroleum emulsions is critical when flowing through porous networks, underground rock beds, and long pipes and microfluidics offers a great platform to mimic the natural conditions existing in rocky beds, to some extent, and studying the emulsion dynamics under shear stress and confined spaces. We test the flow and stability of generated emulsions using microfluidics as a representation of a pore-network model. − The microfluidic device was fabricated using standard soft lithographic techniques. , Emulsions were generated through ultrasonication, then kept to stabilize for at least 3 h before being injected in the microfluidic devices. Emulsions were put in a 1 mL syringe, which was connected to a microfluidic chip.…”

Merits and advances of microfluidics in the pharmaceutical field: design technologies and future prospects

“…Therefore, the unmodified PDMS is restricted to producing water in oil emulsion (w/o) (Mata et al., 2005 ). In order to increase the hydrophilic properties of PDMS, surface modifications can be done using ultraviolet irradiation, oxygen plasma (Long et al., 2017 ; Ruben et al., 2017 ; Zhu et al., 2020 ), corona discharge (Bashir et al., 2018 ), layer by layer deposition (Choi et al., 2018 ; Zhang et al., 2019 ), sol-gel methods (Abate et al., 2008 ), and surface treatment with surfactant (Fu et al., 2017 ; Khemthongcharoen et al., 2021 ). Using oxygen plasma, PDMS-based microfluidic surface modification carried out by Long et al.…”

Hydrogels: The Next Generation Body Materials for Microfluidic Chips?

“…functional structures and components have been introduced into the microfluidic system to realize additional functions. [3,5] Owing to its small scale, microfluidics is superior to traditional laboratory methods in cost-effectiveness, low dose-consumption, rapid processing, portability, high sensitivity, and resolution, as well as miniaturization and integration. [6,7] In the past decade, microfluidics has become a compelling tool in many discrete research fields.…”