Lab-on-chip technologies receive a boost
Microfluidics is a rapidly growing field that relies on precise interactions at the liquid-liquid and solid-liquid interfaces. A better understanding of these forces should allow scientists to design improved microfluidics devices. The CLASS (Complex liquids at structured surfaces) project aimed to boost researchers' understanding and predictions of how complex fluids interact with patterned surfaces. It brought together theoretical, computational and experimental researchers through researcher exchanges between the EU and the United States. Exchanges reinforced existing collaborations and provided opportunities to forge new ones. Further, four international workshops were conducted, promoting fast dissemination of research and interaction amongst consortium members and early-stage researchers. Work mainly focused on the design of superhydrophobic surfaces and characterisation of their wetting properties, and on capillary or pressure-driven flows over substrates with varying topography. Another aspect of the work examined the self-assembly of colloidal particles at fluid-fluid interfaces and the surface-guided assembly of nematic colloids. Industry has recently recognised the important role that topography and surface chemistry of substrates play in emerging lab-on-chip technologies. Tailoring of liquid-liquid and solid-liquid interfaces can provide efficient control of both the liquid flow and the processes taking place inside the chip.
