Microchannel fabrication on cyclic olefin polymer substrates via 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser ablation

Abstract

This paper presents a method for fabrication of microchannels on cyclic olefin polymer films that have application in the field of microfluidics and chemical sensing. Continuous microchannels were fabricated on 188-µm-thick cyclic olefin polymer substrates using a picosecond pulsed 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser. The effect of laser fluence on the microchannel morphology and dimensions was analysed via scanning electron microscopy and optical profilometry. Single laser passes were found to produce v-shaped microchannels with depths ranging from 12 to 48 µm and widths from 44 to 154 2 µm. The ablation rate during processing was lower than predicted theoretically. Multiple laser passes were applied to examine the ability for finer control over microchannel morphology with channel depths ranging from 22 µm to 77 µm and channel widths from 59 µm to 155 µm. For up to five repeat passes, acceptable reproducibility was found in the produced microchannel morphology. Infrared spectroscopy revealed that the polymer surface chemistry was not significantly altered via the laser ablation process. These results were compared to other work conducted on cyclic olefin polymers.

Pulsed laser deposition of plasmonic nanostructured gold on flexible transparent polymers at atmospheric pressure

“…Though some reduction in peak intensity was evident, this was attributed to the deposited gold film reducing the sampling depth into the COP bulk. Though no significant degradation was seen over the range of fluences examined in this work, previous studies have demonstrated substrate melting at fluences of 0.34 J/cm 2 and substrate warping at fluences of 0.79 J/cm 2 [23]. Neither warping or melting was evident from the morphological examination, however it is possible that damage may become evident if a larger laser fluence range is examined.…”

“…Previous work on the thermal degradation of COC has seen the formation of spectral features such as increased C=O stretching at 1710 cm -1 , C=H stretching (2900 -2800 cm -1 ) and the formation of a large band at 4000 -3000 cm -1 (indicative of C=C-H) [22,23]. As the C=H and C=O bonds are at similar intensities before and after deposition, there has been limited oxidation and dehydrogenation of the surface due to the laser deposition process.…”

Nanoparticle functionalized laser patterned substrate: an innovative route towards low cost biomimetic platforms

“…† Our group was the rst to report the fabrication of patterned structures on optically transparent 188 mm thin COP lm via a simple laser assisted technique in ambient atmosphere without the need of controlled gas chambers. 24 This technique offers a low cost, innovative and exible route to fabricate different patterns with varied features (size, shape, morphology, etc.) by tuning laser parameters (such as laser uence and number of passes).…”

“…To realize the application of these generated substrates in a lab-on-a-chip/biosensor format, several test experiments (not reported here) were performed to optimize the generated pattern. 24 The principal criteria taken into consideration were the wettability, roughness, reproducibility and ease of functionalization. With these in mind, the fabrication routine was nalized.…”

PHEMA Hydrogels Obtained by Infrared Radiation for Cartilage Tissue Engineering

“…Biofabrication techniques of polymeric devices and hydrogels through laser technology have been reported [27,28], and their viability for producing 2-D and 3-D grafts is remarkable [28,29]. However, some of the processing methods have high operating cost, such as UV and femtosecond lasers [30], or only works with transparent materials, as a tightly focused ultrafast laser beam at infrared wavelength [29]. Extreme ultraviolet laser might change the degradation rate of the polymeric biomaterial [31], and some techniques, such as the matrix-assisted pulsed laser evaporation direct writing (MAPLE-DW), imply in using metallic layers that might contaminate the final product [28].…”