Matthias Schäfers, Adrian Lenkeit
We develop and construct control modules for microfluidic devices. Microfluidics is a current area of research that allows the creation of labs-on-a-chip, which minimize costs and risks. As the conventional macroscopic mechanical solutions for controlling the flow of fluids are not suitable for the microscale, research is focused on novel solutions for controlling fluids in microscopic structures. We were able to simulate control modules that induce fluid currents within droplets and to test these experimentally. This allows us to mix chemicals and to concentrate solids at the centre of a droplet. Currently, we are working on a way of moving droplets at will.
