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

微流体学研究的是几何上局限于微尺度的流体。微流控装置提供了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，这种方法可以轻松地在家中进行“实时”定期测试。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，导致一些问题，最终损害了小型化的优势。在这项研究中，我们提出电活性油墨印刷作为一种解决方案，将电池直接集成到微流体装置上。印刷是一种具有成本效益的技术，非常适合于一次性设备。此外，本研究还探讨了离子液体作为电池电解质的适用性。离子液体是一种液态盐，与传统电解质相比，离子液体在电池中的应用可能具有许多优点，例如腐蚀性较小，蒸发速率较低。将这种印刷微型电池开发和集成到塑料基POCT和其他微流体装置中，将具有相当大的潜力，可以降低生产成本，并使市场推广更加可行。此外，该研究项目将培养几名学生（高素质人才），为他们在工业界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.