Microfluidic actuators based on infrared-light responsive PNIPAAm hydrogel nanocomposite incorporating graphene-oxide

In lab-on-a-chip systems, microactuators are critical to control the flow within the microchannels. Most of the current actuators require hardware connection (electromagnetic, thermopneumatic actuators, etc.) within the channels, thus significantly increasing the system complexity. Remotely controllable actuators would greatly simplify the system. We demonstrate nanocomposite microfluidic actuators remotely controlled by infrared (IR) light. These actuators are fabricated out of thermo-responsive poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (PNIPAAm) nanocomposite hydrogels incorporated with glycidyl methacylate functionalized graphene-oxide (GO-GMA). Two example devices were realized implementing such actuators: a microvalve and a tunable liquid microlens.