Liquid flow on the microscale often does not behave as we would expect intuitively from our macroscopic point of view. The goal of this course is to provide insight into specific fluidic phenomena that appear on the microscale. A representative range of lab-on-a-chip devices and applications will be discussed to exemplify these specific properties. Starting by exploring the Navier-Stokes and Stokes equations, we will discuss basic microfluidic concepts, with specific focus on pressure-driven flows. Diffusion and on-chip mixing approaches will also be analyzed. An introduction to droplet microfluidics will be presented. A second part of the course addresses the physical/theoretical background of liquid transport by means of electrical fields on the micro- and nanoscale (electroosmosis). We will also derive the formulas governing the manipulation of cells or particles by electric forces (dielectrophoresis) and by magnetic forces in microfluidic devices.
- Professor: Martinus Gijs
- Professor: Thomas Lehnert
