Micro- and Nanotechnology facilities

Several techniques are being employed at the microfluidic core facility to deliver high quality microfluidic chips for the users. To ensure a satisfying outcome for the users, we first set up a general meeting to discuss the final goal of the project and the necessary design of the chip. Based on the requirements and specifications the chip has to meet, the chips are either prepared with standard lithography or 3D printing by the staff of the facility. By using a spin coater, the photoresist is first distributed on a suitable substrate at the height of choice. With the mask-less Aligner the design is exposed into the photoresist and developed. With a profilometer the final height of the chip is being determined. The final product is handed to the user for microfluidic experiments. The facility also owns a 3D printer to generate more complex microfluidic devices. Users can also book a microfluidic set up to conduct their experiments at the facility. The set up consist of a light microscope with 3 fluorescent filter cubes, a high speed camera, a pressure-based flow controller and 4 syringe pumps. Besides conventional Microfluidics we also offer support, by means of knowledge and equipment, to generate water-in-oil emulsion off-chip, synthetic cells or glass-capillary based microfluidic systems.