Fabrication and use of semipermeable membranes and gels for the control of electrolysis

Abstract

A microfluidic device and method is disclosed having one or more membranes for the control of electrolysis. In one embodiment, a microfluidic device is disclosed that includes body with first channel and second channels separated by a gel layer. A first electrodes positioned in the first channel and a second electrode positioned in the second channel wherein a potential applied to the first and second electrodes passes electrons from the first channel to the second channel through the gel layer. In another embodiment, a microfluidic device includes a body having a surface with a channel separating two first reservoirs. One or more membranes are positioned on the surface covering a portion of the channel and a blank is positioned covering the channel and the one or more membranes. A second reservoir through the blank is in contact with the membrane, each second reservoir in communication with the channel via the membrane. A first electrode is positioned in the first reservoir and a second electrode is positioned in the second reservoir wherein a potential applied to the first and second electrodes passes electrons from the first channel to the second channel through the membranes.

1 . A method of fabricating a microfluidic device comprising: 
 staking three wires on a substrate, the three wires intersecting near a midpoint;    pouring polymethylsiloxane material (PDMS) over the substrate and wires;    curing the PDMS forming a replica;    extracting the center wire creating a center channel;    inserting unpolymerized gel into the center channel and curing the gel forming a gel membrane;    extracting the upper and lower wires creating upper and lower channels separated by the gel membrane in the center channel;    positioning a first electrode into the first channel; and    positioning a second electrode into the second channel.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 forming one or more first reservoirs in communication with the first channel and positioning a first electrode into the first reservoir; and    forming one or more second reservoirs in communication with the second channel and positioning a second electrode into the second reservoir.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the gel is agarose.