Project R-12623

Development of advanced electrical and thermal based for monitoring fluids on microscale (Research)

Microfluidics is a rapidly evolving technology that enables precise manipulation of fluids at the submillimetre length scale. Many of these microfluidics applications require inline sensing of different process parameters. Therefore, the integration of sensors to monitor the different process parameters are indispensable. We will develop novel microsized multiparameter sensors which measure electrical and thermal properties of fluidics in microchannels to assess crucial process parameters. These built-in thermal and electrical (potentiometric, amperometric, impedimetric) sensors will allow to monitor fluidic handling in real-time, increasing in this way the reliability of microfluidic devices. The project involves the development, modelling, fabrication, and optimization of the sensing components to be used in microfluidic systems. Research will focus on new materials, fabrication techniques, and optimizing existing and novel applications for the developed micro-sized sensors. The sensors should be able to perform "independent" measurements of different flow properties such as temperature, flow velocity, density, viscosity, ionic strength and solid loading. Furthermore, the integration of these sensors will allow for fault detection mechanisms inside the microfluidic chip such as clogging, etc. This project is a research collaboration between the IMO-IMOMEC research institute of Hasselt University and IMEC Leuven. IMOIMOMEC has an integrated and intensive collaboration with IMEC regarding the domains of renewable energy and advanced diagnostics.

16 November 2021 - 15 November 2025