Microfluidic Device on Fused Silica for Raman Spectroscopy of Liquid Samples

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Abstract
Water testing is becoming increasingly important due to dangerous phenomena such as Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Commonly, the content of a water sample is measured for the detection, monitoring and control of these events. Raman spectroscopy is a technique for the molecular characterization of materials in solid, liquid or gaseous form, which makes it an attractive method for analysing materials’ components. However, Raman scattering is a weak optical process and requires an accurate system for detection. In our work, we present, from design to fabrication, a microfluidic device on fused silica adapted to optimise the Raman spectrum of liquid samples when using a Raman probe. The device features a portable design for rapid on-site continuous flow measurements avoiding the use of large, costly and complex laboratory equipment. The main manufacturing technique used was ultrafast laser-assisted etching (ULAE). Finally, the effectiveness of the microfluidic device was demonstrated by comparing the Raman spectra of a known species of cyanobacteria with those obtained using other conventional substrates in laboratory analysis. The results demonstrate that the microfluidic device, under continuous flow conditions, exhibited a lower standard deviation of the Raman signal, reduced background noise and avoided signal variations caused by sample drying in static measurements.
Funding Information
  • Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (INNVAL23/10, INNVAL24-28, PREVAL23/05, INNVAL24-28, RYC2022-035279-I, TED2021-130378BC21, PID2022-137269OB-C22)
  • University of Cantabria (INNVAL23/10, INNVAL24-28, PREVAL23/05, INNVAL24-28, RYC2022-035279-I, TED2021-130378BC21, PID2022-137269OB-C22)
  • Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (INNVAL23/10, INNVAL24-28, PREVAL23/05, INNVAL24-28, RYC2022-035279-I, TED2021-130378BC21, PID2022-137269OB-C22)
  • MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 (INNVAL23/10, INNVAL24-28, PREVAL23/05, INNVAL24-28, RYC2022-035279-I, TED2021-130378BC21, PID2022-137269OB-C22)
  • FSE+ (INNVAL23/10, INNVAL24-28, PREVAL23/05, INNVAL24-28, RYC2022-035279-I, TED2021-130378BC21, PID2022-137269OB-C22)
  • European Union NextGenerationEU/PRTR (INNVAL23/10, INNVAL24-28, PREVAL23/05, INNVAL24-28, RYC2022-035279-I, TED2021-130378BC21, PID2022-137269OB-C22)
  • FEDER, UE (INNVAL23/10, INNVAL24-28, PREVAL23/05, INNVAL24-28, RYC2022-035279-I, TED2021-130378BC21, PID2022-137269OB-C22)

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