Journal
MICROMACHINES
Volume 10, Issue 9, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/mi10090572
Keywords
microlens array; microfluidics; micromilled microfluidic devices
Categories
Funding
- National Science Council of Taiwan [MOST 108-2221-E-011-144-MY2]
- Mechanical Engineering Department of National Taiwan University of Science and Technology (NTUST)
Ask authors/readers for more resources
In a previous study, we presented a novel manufacturing process for the creation of 6 x 6 and 8 x 8 microlens arrays (MLAs) comprising lenses with diameters of 1000 mu m, 500 mu m, and 200 mu m within an area that covers 10 mm x 10 mm. In the current study, we revised the manufacturing process to allow for the fabrication of MLAs of far higher density (15 x 15 and 29 x 29 within the same area). In this paper, we detail the revised manufacturing scheme, including the micromachining of molds, the partial-curing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) bonding used to fuse the glass substrate and PDMS, and the multi-step casting process. The primary challenges that are involved in creating MLAs of this density were ensuring uniform membrane thickness and preventing leakage between the PDMS and glass substrate. The experiment results demonstrated that the revised fabrication process is capable of producing high density arrays: Design I produced 15 x 15 MLAs with lens diameter of 0.5 mm and fill factor of 47.94%, while Design II produced 29 x 29 MLAs with lens diameter of 0.25 mm and fill factor of 40.87%. The partial-curing PDMS bonding system also proved to be effective in fusing PDMS with glass (maximum bonding strength of approximately six bars). Finally, the redesigned mold was used to create PDMS membranes of high thickness uniformity (coefficient of variance <0.07) and microlenses of high lens height uniformity (coefficient of variance <0.15).
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available