Efficient Microfluidic Power Generator Based on Interaction between DI Water and Hydrophobic-Channel Surface

• Published in: International Journal of Precision Engineering and Manufacturing-Green Technology, 5(2) Vol. 5; no. 2; pp. 255 - 260
• Main Authors: Choi, Yong Whan, Jang, Segeun, Chun, Myung-Suk, Kim, Sang Moon, Choi, Mansoo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Seoul Korean Society for Precision Engineering 01.04.2018; Springer Nature B.V; 한국정밀공학회
• Subjects: Arrays; Boundary conditions; Charge density; Clean technology; Contact angle; Digital cameras; Efficiency; Electrodes; Energy Efficiency; Engineering; Ethanol; Fabrication; Generators; Hydrophobic surfaces; Hydrophobicity; Industrial and Production Engineering; Manufacturing; Microelectromechanical systems; Microfluidics; Plasma etching; Regular Paper; Streaming potential; Sustainable Development; 기계공학; Intrinsic charge; Streaming potential; Microfluidics; Electrokinetics; Hydrophobic surface
• ISSN: 2288-6206; 2198-0810
• DOI: 10.1007/s40684-018-0026-5

The fabrication of power generators utilized by streaming potential has been attracting profound interests for various applications such as wearable healthcare and self-powered micro/nano systems. So far, streaming potential has been generated by a charged channel wall and accumulated counter-ions. However, this approach is assumed as no-slip boundary condition, while the slippery channel wall is critical for high efficiency. Herein, we demonstrate a microfluidic power generator based on streaming potential that can be intrinsically charged at a hydrophobic channel wall. This charging mechanism has higher values of charge density and slip boundary condition. We have achieved output voltage of ~2.7 V and streaming conductance density of ~1.23 A/m 2 ·bar with the channel that is ~2 μm high and ~3.5 μm wide. Our result is a promising step for obtaining low-cost, high efficient power-generators for micro/nano systems.