Grant: Research Tools and Instruments - Category 1 (<$150,000)

This proposal describes equipment which enables scientists and engineers to fabricate small scale devices which have surface features and channels on the micro-meter scale. These devices include chemical sampling chips and micro-electronics cooling devices. Given the space limitations of most modern electronics and chemical sampling and analysis equipment, micro-fluidic based technologies are becoming more prevalent.  Micro-fluidic devices allow for on site separation and analysis of complex samples with high efficiency and small sample size.  These devices have applications in environmental monitoring, biomedical screening, or any situation where rapid detection of a particular analyte or class of analytes is required. In situ cooling devices for thermal control of micro-chips also utilize micro-fluidic flow networks for heat removal. Proper thermal control is essential if an electronic device is to function as intended. In the absence of device level cooling, chips run hotter, and are more prone to temperature induced errors.The Maskless Patterning System described in this proposal will allow for the creation of micro-fluidic devices in a wide range of materials (from plastics to metals) and with a wide range of channel sizes and geometries.  This allows for careful study of the various physical parameters which control micro-fluidic device performance, thus leading to great improvements in design. The requested equipment is a new system, which eliminates the need for a two step process, which is traditionally more expensive and time consuming when producing prototypes.This research will benefit many industries such as biotechnology, energy and sustainable systems, and micro-electronics, leading to more efficient and cost effective solutions.