2024/10/21 by Falko Schmidt, C. González-Gómez, Schmidt, Falko +9 · 1 voice · 1 citation
Engineering · #Applied Physics (physics.app-ph) #FOS: Physical sciences #Photonic and Optical Devices #Semiconductor Lasers and Optical Devices #Soft Condensed Matter (cond-mat.soft)
paper · pdf · doi:10.48550/arxiv.2410.15708
openalex publication_date 2024/10/21 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
Microfluidics has revolutionized control over small volumes through the use of physical barriers. However, the rigidity of these barriers limits flexibility in applications. We present an optofluidic toolbox that leverages structured light and photothermal conversion to create dynamic, reconfigurable fluidic boundaries. This system enables precise manipulation of fluids and particles by generating 3D thermal landscapes with high spatial control. Our approach replicates the functions of traditional barriers while additionally allowing real-time reconfiguration for complex tasks, such as individual particle steering and size-based sorting in heterogeneous mixtures. These results highlight the platform's potential for adaptive and multifunctional microfluidic systems in applications such as chemical synthesis, lab-on-chip devices, and microbiology, seamlessly integrating with existing setups due to its flexibility and minimal operation requirements.