Paper-based digital microfluidics

In this paper, a new fabrication method for digital microfluidics is proposed. In which, paper, graphite, and adhesive tape are used as substrate, electrodes, and dielectric layer, respectively. The graphite is sprayed over a template on the paper substrate. Two different water repellants are used as the hydrophobic layer, which replace with expensive materials such as Teflon-AF(A (R)). The paper substrate is low cost, available, and flexible. The proposed device is disposable, and its fabrication procedure is simple, fast, and low cost which allows creation of a new device for each individual experiment. Therefore, problems such as adsorption and dielectric breakdown will not occur in this type of digital microfluidics. This device can perform two types of droplet operations, merging and moving on droplets in volumes of 15-50 mu L.