2007/02/08 by Manu Prakash, Neil Gershenfeld · 6 citations
Engineering · #Innovative Microfluidic and Catalytic Techniques Innovation #Microfluidic and Capillary Electrophoresis Applications #Electrowetting and Microfluidic Technologies
paper · doi:10.1126/science.1136907
openalex publication_date 2007/02/08 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/31
We demonstrate universal computation in an all-fluidic two-phase microfluidic system. Nonlinearity is introduced into an otherwise linear, reversible, low-Reynolds number flow via bubble-to-bubble hydrodynamic interactions. A bubble traveling in a channel represents a bit, providing us with the capability to simultaneously transport materials and perform logical control operations. We demonstrate bubble logic AND/OR/NOT gates, a toggle flip-flop, a ripple counter, timing restoration, a ring oscillator, and an electro-bubble modulator. These show the nonlinearity, gain, bistability, synchronization, cascadability, feedback, and programmability required for scalable universal computation. With increasing complexity in large-scale microfluidic processors, bubble logic provides an on-chip process control mechanism integrating chemistry and computation.