One-piece micropumps from liquid crystalline core-shell particles

Eva-Kristina Fleischmann, Hsin-Ling Liang, Nadia Kapernaum, Frank Giesselmann, Jan Lagerwall () and Rudolf Zentel ()
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Eva-Kristina Fleischmann: Institute of Organic Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Hsin-Ling Liang: Institute of Organic Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz
Nadia Kapernaum: Institute of Physical Chemistry, Universität Stuttgart
Frank Giesselmann: Institute of Physical Chemistry, Universität Stuttgart
Jan Lagerwall: Seoul National University
Rudolf Zentel: Institute of Organic Chemistry, Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz

Nature Communications, 2012, vol. 3, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Responsive polymers are low-cost, light weight and flexible, and thus an attractive class of materials for the integration into micromechanical and lab-on-chip systems. Triggered by external stimuli, liquid crystalline elastomers are able to perform mechanical motion and can be utilized as microactuators. Here we present the fabrication of one-piece micropumps from liquid crystalline core-shell elastomer particles via a microfluidic double-emulsion process, the continuous nature of which enables a low-cost and rapid production. The liquid crystalline elastomer shell contains a liquid core, which is reversibly pumped into and out of the particle by actuation of the liquid crystalline shell in a jellyfish-like motion. The liquid crystalline elastomer shells have the potential to be integrated into a microfluidic system as micropumps that do not require additional components, except passive channel connectors and a trigger for actuation. This renders elaborate and high-cost micromachining techniques, which are otherwise required for obtaining microstructures with pump function, unnecessary.

Date: 2012
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms2193

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