Thermal management in microfluidics using micro-Peltier junctions

We report refrigeration and heating of nanoliter fluid volumes with micro-Peltier junctions. The temperature of small liquid reservoirs can be rapidly changed and controlled within a range between -3 degrees C to over 120 degrees C with good long-term stability. These thermal management systems enable the fabrication of complex chip-based chemical and biochemical reaction systems in which the temperature of many processes can be controlled independently. (C) 2005 American Institute of Physics.