Switchable Hydrophobic Valve for Controlled Microfluidic Processing.

A simple microfluidic valve, without any moving parts, is presented that can control solution flow on demand in microchannels of many different materials using a low-power electric signal. Many independently operating valves can easily be integrated into complex microfluidic systems. The valve consists of a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) formed on a platinum electrode that is incorporated directly in the microchannel. The normally-on valve stops the solution flow due to a hydrophobic SAM on the electrode surface. The solution is allowed to pass the valve by applying a potential to the electrode, which removes the SAM due to reductive desorption. The valve operation is highly stable and has switching times of the order of 1 s. The valve is ideal for controlled solution manipulation in integrated micro-analytical systems and autonomous microfluidic systems.