Contamination of PDMS microchannels by lithographic molds.

By use of synchrotron X-ray fluorescence and Rutherford backscattering spectrometry, we show the SU-8 soft lithographic process contaminates PDMS. Residues of the antimony containing photoinitiator are transferred from the master mold to the surface of PDMS, uncontrollably intensifying the surface potential, leading to electroosmotic flow variability in PDMS microfluidic devices.

A rapid, inexpensive surface treatment for enhanced functionality of polydimethylsiloxane microfluidic channels.

A rapid, inexpensive method using alkoxysilanes has been developed to selectively coat the interior of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic channels with an integral silicaceous layer. This method combines the rapid prototyping capabilities of PDMS with the desirable wetting and electroosmotic properties of glass. The procedure can be carried out on the open faces of PDMS blocks prior to enclosure of the channels, or by flowing the reagents through the preformed channels. Therefore, this methodology allows for high-throughput processing of entire microfluidic devices or selective modification of specific areas of a device. Modification of PDMS with tetraethoxysilane generated a stable surface layer, with enhanced wettability and a more stable electroosmotic flow rate than native PDMS. Modification of PDMS with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane generated a surface layer bearing amine functionalities allowing for further chemical derivatization of the PDMS surface.

Unprecedented oxo-titanium citrate complex precipitated from aqueous citrate solutions, exhibiting a novel bilayered Ti8O10 structural core.

Aqueous titanium citrate solutions were prepared from the reaction of citric acid with titanium 2-propoxide in a range of molar ratios. Solutions containing two or fewer citrates per titanium resulted in the slow crystallization of an insoluble titanium oxo-citrate complex. Single-crystal X-ray analysis identified the species as Ti(8)O(10)(citrate)(4)(H(2)O)(12).14H(2)O.3HOPr(i)(), crystallized in the tetragonal space group I4(1)/a, with a = 30.775(7) A, c = 14.528(7) A, V = 13 759(8) A(3), and Z = 8. The trianionic citrate ligands supply both carboxylate and alkoxide coordination and stabilize the structure using simultaneous chelating and bridging modes of attachment. The compound is a neutral species, exhibiting titanium in three contrasting environments. Laser Raman microscopy and (13)C CPMAS solid-state NMR data were consistent with those of the X-ray crystal structure. When exposed to air, the crystals rapidly lost water and became a powder. The dehydrated powder was noncrystalline to X-rays and insoluble, but (13)C NMR results demonstrated retention of the carboxylate linkages.