Topological Microfluidics
Subtitle: Nematic Liquid Crystals and Nematic Colloids in Microfluidic Environment
Publisher: Springer
Published: Aug 09, 2013
Format: hardcover
Number of pages: 153
ISBN-13: 9783319008578
Description: This work represents one of the first comprehensive attempts to seamlessly integrate two highly active interdisciplinary domains in soft matter science – microfluidics and liquid crystals (LCs). Motivated by the lack of fundamental experiments, Dr. Sengupta initiated systematic investigation of LC flows at micro scales, gaining new insights that are also suggestive of novel applications. By tailoring the surface anchoring of the LC molecules and the channel dimensions, different topological constraints were controllably introduced within the microfluidic devices. These topological constraints were further manipulated using a flow field, paving the way for Topological Microfluidics.  Harnessing topology on a microfluidic platform, as described in this thesis, opens up capabilities beyond the conventional viscous-dominated microfluidics, promising potential applications in targeted delivery and sorting systems, self-assembled motifs, and novel metamaterial fabrications.
Notes: Source title: Topological Microfluidics: Nematic Liquid Crystals and Nematic Colloids in Microfluidic Environment (Springer Theses)