Microfluidic flowmeter using a PDMS-coated capillary

Zhe Wang, Yiming Shen, Zhuochen Wang, Anuradha Rout, Rayhan Habib Jibon, V. R. Anand, Fangfang Wei, Marek Rebow, Qiang Wu, Yuliya Semenova

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contributionpeer-review

Abstract

A novel flowmeter based on a whispering gallery modes (WGMs) microbottle resonator is proposed and experimentally demonstrated. WGMs are excited by a tapered fiber coupled perpendicularly to a microbottle resonator formed by polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) deposited on the surface of the central region of a tapered silica capillary. The tapered capillary works as the microfluidic channel, allowing air to flow through the capillary with varying flow rates. A broadband light source was utilized as a heat source to heat the PDMS microbottle. The air flowing through the capillary causes a temperature decrease, leading to a refractive index (RI) decrease and a size shrinkage of the PDMS microbottle resonator. This change leads to a WGM resonance shift, the value of which can be linked to the airflow rate in the capillary. A sensitivity of 0.881 nm/sccm in the range of flow rates from 0 to 2.52 sccm has been demonstrated in our experiment. The proposed sensor can be used for low-volume flow rate measurement and offers the advantages of simplicity, high sensitivity, and miniature size.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publication29th International Conference on Optical Fiber Sensors
EditorsJose Luis Santos, Manuel Lopez-Amo Sainz, Tong Sun
PublisherSPIE
ISBN (Electronic)9781510691872
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2025
Event29th International Conference on Optical Fiber Sensors - Porto, Portugal
Duration: 25 May 202530 May 2025

Publication series

NameProceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering
Volume13639
ISSN (Print)0277-786X
ISSN (Electronic)1996-756X

Conference

Conference29th International Conference on Optical Fiber Sensors
Country/TerritoryPortugal
CityPorto
Period25/05/2530/05/25

Keywords

  • capillary
  • flowmeter
  • PDMS
  • resonator
  • whispering gallery modes

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