Abstract
This study proposed a two-step simple method for rapid superhydrophobic surface modification of PDMS for PDMS-based microfluidics. A laser-patterned PMMA plate was used as the mask for the following selective CO2 laser surface treatment on PDMS. The water contact angle, SEM and ATR-FTIR analysis were conducted for the characterization of the proposed superhydrophobic surface modification method for PDMS. The result shows that the water contact angle on the modified PDMS surface reaches around 160° with the laser power of 12 W and with a scanning speed of 60 mm/s. This method aims to develop a faster, easier, and low-cost method for selective superhydrophobic modification method for PDMS-based microfluidic devices. The proposed method could have wide applications potentials in the microfluidics field, especially for PDMS-based droplet microfluidics.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. YJZ performed partial experience, data collection and analysis. JJL wrote the manuscript and data analysis. The parameter adjustment and the result characteristic were done by YMX and KML. ZZ and CY made a contribution to the fabrication and verification of microfluidic mixers. YQF contributed to the revision of the manuscript.
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Yajun, Z., Jingji, L., Xie, Y. et al. Superhydrophobic treatment of PDMS-based microfluidic devices using CO2 laser ablation. Microfluid Nanofluid 28, 8 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-023-02698-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10404-023-02698-5