Cost-effective and disposable microbatteries for point-of-care-testing and other microfluidic applications

微流体学研究几何上被限制在微尺度内的流体。微流控设备为患者现场的医疗检测提供了一种手段，即所谓的护理点检测(POCT)。诊断以前需要几个步骤、高技能的人员和昂贵的设备，现在可以用微流控方法取代，这些方法可以轻松地进行常规的实时检测，这些检测可以在家里私下进行。然而，在几乎所有的微流控技术中，电源是进一步发展的重要关键。大多数微流控器件仍然由外部和相对较大的电源供电，这导致了几个问题，最终损害了小型化的优势。在这项研究中，我们建议将电活性油墨打印作为一种解决方案，将电池直接集成到微流体设备上。打印是一项具有成本效益的技术，非常适合一次性设备。此外，这项研究还探索了离子液体作为电池电解液的适用性。离子液体是一种液态盐，与传统电解液相比，它在电池中的应用具有许多优点，如腐蚀性较小，蒸发速率较低。这种印刷微电池的开发和集成到基于塑料的POCT和其他微流体设备中，将有相当大的潜力降低生产成本，并使市场引入更具可行性。此外，这项研究项目还将培训几名学生(高素质人员)，为他们在工业和学术界的职业生涯做准备。

Microfluidics deals with fluids that are geometrically confined to a micro scale. Microfluidic devices provide a means for healthcare testing at the site of the patient; i.e. the so-called Point-of-Care Testing (POCT). Diagnostics that previously required several steps, highly skilled personnel and expensive equipment can be replaced with microfluidic methods that generate easy access to regular testing in 'real-time' that can be carried out in privacy at home. However, in almost all microfluidic technologies, electric power supply is an important key to further development. The majority of microfluidic devices are still powered by external and relatively large power supplies leading to several problems which finally compromise the advantages of miniaturization. In this research, we propose printing of electroactive inks as a solution to integrate batteries directly onto a microfluidic device. Printing is a cost effective technology and very much suitable for disposable devices. Additionally, this research explores the suitability of Ionic Liquids as battery electrolyte. An Ionic Liquid is a salt in a liquid state and its utilization in batteries may have numerous advantages such as lesser corrosivity and lower evaporation rates compared to conventional electrolytes. The development and integration of such printed micro batteries into plastic-based POCT and other microfluidic devices would have considerable potential to lower production costs and make a market introduction more feasible. Also, this research project will train several students (Highly Qualified Personnel) preparing them for careers in industry and academia.