Compact lab-on-printed circuit board (PCB) for free-surfactant silver nanomaterial synthesis

Abstract

This study introduces a compact Lab-on-Printed Circuit Board (PCB) device featuring thermal integrated microfluidic channels designed for nanoparticle synthesis. Commonly, complex heating chambers are employed to expedite reactions and enhance nanomaterial productivity, yet they pose challenges in temperature control and mixing rates within the reaction chamber. To address these issues, we propose a compact device composed of PDMS microfluidic channels and a PCB platform. The PCB heater, constructed to precisely regulate temperature within the microfluidic channels, utilizes copper lines as heating resistors, while an Arduino kit is employed for temperature measurement and control. Leveraging a Proportional–integral–derivative (PID) controller through programming, the device achieves rapid temperature increase and stable control within the microfluidic channels. Experimental validation demonstrates the operational principles and capabilities of this device, showcasing observable changes in nanoparticle size and morphology. Discussions on these observed results are included in this work.