Figure 2
Working principle of degas-driven flow guided patterning (DFGP). (a) Schematic illustration of the DFGP procedure for self-transportation of μstamping ink. The proposed mechanism of the degassed PDMS stamp is based on its high air solubility. (i) PDMS stamp covered with 1st ink; (ii) degassing of the PDMS stamp in a vacuum chamber; (iii) removing the PDMS stamp from vacuum conditions and placing 2nd ink on an inlet; and (iv) aspiration of the 2nd ink into the free cavity of the PDMS stamp under negative pressure created by the degassed PDMS. (b) Optical micrographs of microfluidic μstamp filled with red-color dye. (c) Different degassing time were tested (5 min to 15 min) to generate the degas flow-based fluidic actuation for DFGP.
