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Title: Note: A microfluidic freezer based on evaporative cooling of atomized aqueous microdroplets

Abstract

We report for the first time water-based evaporative cooling integrated into a microfluidic chip for temperature control and freezing of biological solution. We opt for water as a nontoxic, effective refrigerant. Aqueous solutions are atomized in our device and evaporation of microdroplets under vacuum removes heat effectively. We achieve rapid cooling (−5.1 °C/s) and a low freezing temperature (−14.1 °C). Using this approach, we demonstrate freezing of deionized water and protein solution. Our simple, yet effective cooling device may improve many microfluidic applications currently relying on external power-hungry instruments for cooling and freezing.

Authors:
;  [1];  [2]
  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Myongji University, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 449-728 (Korea, Republic of)
  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Mapo-gu, Seoul 121-791 (Korea, Republic of)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22392337
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Review of Scientific Instruments
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 86; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0034-6748
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY; AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS; EVAPORATION; EVAPORATIVE COOLING; FREEZERS; FREEZING; HEAT; REFRIGERANTS; TEMPERATURE CONTROL; WATER

Citation Formats

Song, Jin, Kim, Dohyun, and Chung, Minsub. Note: A microfluidic freezer based on evaporative cooling of atomized aqueous microdroplets. United States: N. p., 2015. Web. doi:10.1063/1.4905184.
Song, Jin, Kim, Dohyun, & Chung, Minsub. Note: A microfluidic freezer based on evaporative cooling of atomized aqueous microdroplets. United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4905184
Song, Jin, Kim, Dohyun, and Chung, Minsub. 2015. "Note: A microfluidic freezer based on evaporative cooling of atomized aqueous microdroplets". United States. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4905184.
@article{osti_22392337,
title = {Note: A microfluidic freezer based on evaporative cooling of atomized aqueous microdroplets},
author = {Song, Jin and Kim, Dohyun and Chung, Minsub},
abstractNote = {We report for the first time water-based evaporative cooling integrated into a microfluidic chip for temperature control and freezing of biological solution. We opt for water as a nontoxic, effective refrigerant. Aqueous solutions are atomized in our device and evaporation of microdroplets under vacuum removes heat effectively. We achieve rapid cooling (−5.1 °C/s) and a low freezing temperature (−14.1 °C). Using this approach, we demonstrate freezing of deionized water and protein solution. Our simple, yet effective cooling device may improve many microfluidic applications currently relying on external power-hungry instruments for cooling and freezing.},
doi = {10.1063/1.4905184},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22392337}, journal = {Review of Scientific Instruments},
issn = {0034-6748},
number = 1,
volume = 86,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2015},
month = {Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2015}
}