| abstract |
Microfluidic devices are a promising new tool for studying and optimizing (bio-) chemical reactions and analyses. Many (bio-) chemical reactions require accurate temperature control, as for example thermocycling for PCR. Here, a new integrated temperature control system for microfluidic devices is presented, using chemical reactions to locally regulate temperature. In an embodiment, the evaporation of acetone was used as an endothermic reaction to cool a microchannel. Alternatively, heating of a microchannel can be achieved by dissolution of concentrated sulphuric acid in water as an exothermic reaction. Localization of the contact area of two flows in a microfluidic channel enables control of the position of the temperature effect, while the flow rate ratio influences the magnitude of the thermal effect. |