3D printing of cellular structures for tunable liquid transport

• Main Author: Muhammad Miqdad Bin Mazlan
• Other Authors: Zhou Kun
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2024
• Subjects: Engineering; Microfluidics; Capillary
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/177857
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Microfluidics, the manipulation of fluids on a microscopic scale, offers exciting possibilities for various fields. While nature provides numerous examples of microfluidic systems, like capillary networks in leaves, translating these principles into human-made technologies requires further exploration. This study focuses on achieving unidirectional liquid transport in 3D space using microfluidics. This project aims to design and 3D print gradient cellular structures using Digital Light Processing (DLP) printing. By investigating how factors like cell size, density, and wettability influence liquid flow within these structures, we aim to optimize unidirectional transport. Ultimately, we hope to demonstrate the potential of these structures in functional applications like controlled evaporation and mixing, paving the way for advancements in microfluidic technology. We hypothesize that designing gradient cellular structures with varying cell sizes and densities can influence liquid flow direction. By utilizing Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing for high-resolution fabrication, we will investigate how these architectural parameters, along with liquid wettability, impact liquid flow behaviour. This research aims to optimize unidirectional microfluidic flow within the printed structures, paving the way for applications in areas like controlled liquid mixing and enhanced evaporative cooling.