Microplasmas for analytical applications of lab-on-a-chip

The concept of “lab-on-a-chip” has expanded within recent years and has numerous potential applications in analytical chemistry. As a result, greater emphasis has been placed on research into microplasmas, which can act as sample-excitation sources for lab-on-a-chip devices. These miniaturized versions of full-sized plasma sources have become popular for optical emission spectrometry, mass spectrometry and atomic spectroscopy.Microplasmas for lab-on-a-chip can offer an element-specific or molecule-specific, label-free detection method. The development of microfabrication techniques makes it possible to integrate microplasma sources on chips within analytical instruments, reducing the operating and purchasing costs while increasing instrument portability.We review current and prospective generation, fabrication and application of microplasma chips in lab-on-a-chip research.

► Microplasma as sample-excitation source for optical emission spectrometry.
► Development of microfabrication techniques for lab-on-a-chip devices.
► Miniaturized analytical instrumentation for chemical detection.