Acoustofluidic actuation of in situ fabricated microrotors

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Abstract
We have demonstrated in situ fabricated and acoustically actuated microrotors. A polymeric microrotor with predefined oscillating sharp-edge structures is fabricated in situ by applying a patterned UV light to polymerize a photocrosslinkable polyethylene glycol solution inside a microchannel around a polydimethylsiloxane axle. To actuate the microrotors by oscillating the sharp-edge structures, we employed piezoelectric transducers which generate tunable acoustic waves. The resulting acoustic streaming flows rotate the microrotors. The rotation rate is tuned by controlling the peak-to-peak voltage applied to the transducer. A 6-arm microrotor can exceed 1200 revolutions per minute. Our technique is an integration of single-step microfabrication, instant assembly around the axle, and easy acoustic actuation for various applications in microfluidics and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS).
Funding Information
  • National Science Foundation (CBET-1438126)
  • National Science Foundation (IIP-1534645)
  • National Science Foundation (IDBR-1455658)
  • National Institutes of Health (R01 GM112048)
  • National Institutes of Health (R33 EB019785)

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