Project description
Transparent lab-on-a-chip is a window on processes under extreme conditions
Many natural and engineered reactions and processes occur in extreme environments of very high temperatures or pressures or very harsh chemical conditions. Understanding and potentially controlling these processes is quite challenging because it is difficult to study them in the field or to replicate the conditions in the lab. In a previous project, the ERC-funded SALAMI project’s researchers developed a unique microfluidics platform made of sapphire and operating over a broad range of temperatures and pressures to address this. SALAMI will significantly extend the pressures and temperatures of this platform in a new one made of sapphire and diamond that is also uniquely transparent and resistant to harsh chemical conditions.
Objective
Extreme conditions, i.e. high pressures, high temperature (HP/HT) or harsh chemical environments are extremely difficult to study and to observe undisturbed in the field and to replicate in the laboratory. This critically slows down the rate of discoveries both for several industrial processes or in environmental sciences. New types of transparent reactors are needed to implement fast-screening to speed up experimentations in harsh conditions. While microfluidics could address these limitations, current solutions do not propose simultaneously high pressure / high temperature capability, chemical inertness and transparency.
A new microfabrication technology developed in the ERC CoG BIG MAC project, allowed the development of an innovative microfluidics platform made out of sapphire for pioneered applications in HP microbiology and bioprocesses (in-situ characterisation of geo- and HP- bioprocesses over a broad range of pressures (< 300 bar) and temperatures (<200°C). In the ERC PoC SALAMI project, I aim to extend this concept to a new family of microfluidic devices based on sapphire and diamond to meet the actual needs of potential end-users (kbar, > 700°C). These microfluidic reactors will be highly disruptive because they are both uniquely transparent and resistant to harsh pressure, temperature and chemical conditions. The ERC PoC SALAMI project will extend the frontiers of microfluidics with market-ready extreme conditions plug-and-play and user-friendly lab-on-a-chip for lab-scale and field-based non-specialist applications. It will enable measurements in extreme environments in multiple areas that do not currently benefit from microfluidics, thus opening new lines of questioning for research and simplified and cost effective diagnostic tools for industry, while HP/HT technologies miniaturisation and fast screening capability can greatly reduce costs for process optimisation.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept GrantsHost institution
75794 Paris
France