A pumping actuator implemented on a PCB substrate by employing water electrolysis

This work concerns the development of a novel actuator based on water electrolysis for pumping use in microfluidic systems. The electrolysis is performed inside a confined reservoir integrated on a PCB substrate which is connected to a microchannel. During the electrolysis process, the generated gases within the enclosed structure lead to a significant pressure increase which can be employed in order to move a liquid inside the microchannel. In order to demonstrate the device’s principle of operation, water is driven through a meander microchannel structure which is connected at the output of an appropriate micro-tank; the effectiveness of employing electrolysis as an actuating principle has been investigated by monitoring the resulting pressure increase for a device with a larger reservoir. Furthermore, the operation of such a device as a micro-pump was successfully demonstrated by extracting the resulting flow-rate experimentally; the obtained results from the first prototype are clearly promising.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► A PCB integrated actuator based on electrolysis was fabricated and employed as a micro-pump. ► A large pneumatic pressure increase at the device’s outflow has been recorded. ► The resulting flow rate ranges from 20 μL/min to 135 μL/min. ► The device combines simplicity, reduced fabrication time and cost and direct electrical communication to the macro-world.