High-precision interferometric monitoring of polymer swelling using a simple optofluidic sensor

作者：Gervinskas Gediminas; Day Daniel; Juodkazis Saulius^*

来源：Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical , 2011, 159(1): 39-43.

DOI：10.1016/j.snb.2011.06.021

• Interferometry
• PMMA
• Polymer swelling
• Microfluidics

Swelling of poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA) in weak solvents water, ethanol, and methanol was investigated by interferometry using a simple microfluidic sensor. A change of channel width by +/- 10 nm, comparable with the surface roughness of the polymer surface, is reliably detected and its temporal evolution was monitored in situ. Dynamics of polymer swelling over time periods from a few seconds to a few days were obtained. An optimized inexpensive microfluidic sensor design using hot embossing with gold sputtering is presented. Such a sensor can be used for high-fidelity adsorption-desorption interferometric sensing and its cost can be optimized for a single use.

• 出版日期2011-11-28