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

微流体学处理的是几何上被限制在微观尺度上的流体。微流体设备提供了一种在患者现场进行医疗保健测试的手段;即所谓的护理点测试（POCT）。以前需要几个步骤、高技能人员和昂贵设备的诊断可以被微流体方法所取代，微流体方法可以方便地进行“实时”定期测试，可以在家中进行。然而，在几乎所有的微流控技术中，电力供应都是进一步发展的重要关键。大多数微流体装置仍然由外部和相对较大的电源供电，导致最终损害小型化优点的几个问题。在这项研究中，我们提出了电活性油墨的印刷作为一种解决方案，将电池直接集成到微流体设备上。打印是一种成本效益高的技术，非常适合一次性设备。此外，本研究还探讨了离子液体作为电池电解质的适用性。离子液体是液态的盐，并且其在电池中的利用可以具有许多优点，例如与常规电解质相比，腐蚀性较小和蒸发速率较低。这种印刷微电池的开发和集成到塑料POCT和其他微流体设备中将具有相当大的潜力来降低生产成本，并使市场引入更加可行。此外，该研究项目将培养几名学生（高素质人才），为他们在工业和学术界的职业生涯做好准备。

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.