Fabrication and Characterization of a Magnetohydrodynamic Micropump from Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)

Microfluidics is a growing area of study in recent years, particularly for lab-on-a-chip applications. Fluids must oftentimes be transported from one location on the chip to another. This study focuses on the fabrication and characterization of a magnetohydrodynamic micropump. The device was fabricated in the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology MiNDS facility, and consisted of a PDMS channel and titanium electrodes supported on a glass slide with a permanent magnet. An Arduino microcontroller capable of pulse width modulation (PWM) was used to control the electrical potential. An electrode design that spanned the full length of the channel was successful in driving fluid motion. Erioglaucine disodium salt blue dye was used to track the fluid motion through the channel, and appeared to have a greater impact on the apparent fluid velocity than sodium chloride. Of the PWM duty cycles tested, 75% had the highest apparent fluid velocity. The titanium that contacted the fluid anodized, indicating it is best suited for disposable applications