Propulsion of microboats using isopropyl alcohol as a propellant

In this work, we explored the possibility to develop a microboat for potentially transporting desired targets in microfluidic systems. We studied its design, fabrication, actuation and motions. In three types of tests conducted on water surfaces of different heights in a 30-cm-long channel, the microboat had a speed in the order of 0.1 m s(-1), and propulsive forces ranged from 159 to 250 mu N. It took 1-2 s for the microboat to go through the channel, and resistance coefficients varied from 0.144 to 0.324. Also, when the resistance coefficient was 0.324, the microboat was still able to travel a distance of 91.4 cm within 5.33 s in a 94.5-cm-long channel.