Ordered surface crack patterns <i>in situ</i> formed under confinement on fluidic microchannel boundaries in polydimethylsiloxane.

Bu, Yang; Ni, Sheng; Yobas, Levent · Lab Chip · 2021

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

We present ordered surface crack patterns discovered in microfluidic channels/chambers in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The cracks are formed in situ under confinement due to compression applied following an oxygen plasma step in a soft lithography process. The crack patterns are noticeable only after fluorescent labeling and vary with fluidic layout as well as material compliance.