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

Journal Article · Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Review of Scientific Instruments

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4905184· OSTI ID:22392337

Song, Jin; Kim, Dohyun ^[1]; Chung, Minsub ^[2]

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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)

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.

• OSTI ID: 22392337
• Journal Information: Review of Scientific Instruments, Vol. 86, Issue 1; Other Information: (c) 2015 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0034-6748
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS
EVAPORATION
EVAPORATIVE COOLING
FREEZERS
FREEZING
HEAT
REFRIGERANTS
TEMPERATURE CONTROL
WATER