Raymond Woo1
Dr. Richard Fair, Advisor
Duke University Electrical Engineering
The goal of my research project is to demonstrate the feasibility of performing optical manipulations using digital microfluidics. The obvious application for this is in photonics, where a microfluidic system could potentially be used for ultra-low power, zero loss all-optical switching, and perhaps also for other, more sophisticated manipulations. There are of course many significant design challenges to be overcome before such devices can be realized, and part of my project is to identify and begin to address some of these challenges. Nevertheless, I think that the potential benefits of this concept make it a very exciting prospect.
In addition, there is another completely different, but equally as exciting possible application, and that is the integration of optical functionality into microfluidics based micro-Total Analysis Systems (μTAS). Spectroscopy and other methods of optical analysis and detection are well established parts of the modern chemistry lab. As we move towards miniaturized, highly integrated, lab-on-a-chip type devices, it seems important to have the ability to incorporate optical functionality into micro-scale analysis systems.
The electrowetting based digital microfluidic technology currently being developed at the Duke Microfluidics Lab is perhaps the most flexible system for micro/nanofluidic actuation currently being studied. The key is the ability of the system to make droplets conform to arbitrary two dimensional shapes. Using refractive-index matched droplets, I will demonstrate a reconfigurable fluidic waveguide. Since having the ability to control the movement of light is crucial to any optical system, droplet based waveguides will likely form the core of any optical microfluidic system. With some simple prototypes for microfluidic optical components, I will show the basic feasibility of using microfluidics to perform optical manipulations. Another aspect of my project will be to explore the architectural issues and challenges associated with implementing some of the microfluidic optical devices that I have proposed. I hope that my project can provide a solid fundamental basis for the future development of integrated optical microfluidic systems.
1 raymond.woo@duke.edu