Microrocket Based Viscometer

Liquid viscosity is a vital metric in microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) and nanoelectromechanical systems (NEMS). The application of conventional viscosity measurements in micro/nano scale is complex and not economically viable. Self-propelled catalytic microrockets, capable of converting energy into movement and forces, have shown considerable promise for diverse practical applications in MEMS/NEMS. In this work, a novel micromotor-based viscometer is developed. The relation between the velocity of microrocket and the viscosity of solution is experimentally studied and theoretically modelled. A linear relationship between both variables is observed, with a decrease in the velocity of microrocket as the viscosity of solution increases. The microrocket based viscometer can be used to measure the viscosity within the range of 1.5-6.361 cP, 1.5-6.575 cP, and 1.5-7.486 cP in 5%, 7.5% and 10% H2O2 solutions, respectively. Compared with traditional viscometers, the newly developed microrocket-based viscometer represent a cost-effective, and ultracompact sized alternative that can be used for viscosity measurement in MEMS and NEMS. (C) 2015 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.