Abstract: A microfluidic device includes a substrate, first and second capillary inlets, a microfluidic channel unit, an outlet disposed downstream of the microfluidic channel unit, and a suction member disposed downstream of the outlet. A first liquid is drawn into a first sub-channel and a main channel of the microfluidic channel unit through the first capillary inlet. A second liquid is drawn into a second sub-channel of the microfluidic channel unit through the second capillary inlet. The suction member provides a predetermined suction force to permit the second liquid to penetrate into the first liquid and to break up into droplets in the first liquid, thereby generating monodisperse emulsions.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a piezoelectric transducer is provided. The method includes providing a substrate on which a plurality of patterned electrodes are formed; providing a piezoelectric suspension, having a plurality of piezoelectric particles, on the substrate and the plurality of patterned electrodes; applying a voltage between the plurality of patterned electrodes to produce an electric field; and depositing the plurality of piezoelectric particles of the piezoelectric suspension on at least one of the plurality of patterned electrodes by the electric field to form a patterned piezoelectric membrane, and polarizing the piezoelectric membrane by the electric field.

Abstract: A method of making a breath sensing tube includes: (A) dispersing a nanowire material in a solution in a dielectriphoretic bath, such that the nanowire material is formed into individual nanowires and nanowire aggregates; (B) adsorbing the nanowire aggregates on a bath electrode through dielectrophoresis so as to obtain a nanowire-containing solution containing the individual nanowires; contacting sensor electrodes of a substrate with the nanowire-containing solution; and subjecting the nanowire-containing solution to dielectrophoresis, so that one of the individual nanowires is adsorbed to the sensor electrodes to interconnect the sensor electrodes.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a nanoimprinted film which is made from a ferroelectric polymer having a first conformation state and coated on a substrate. The ferroelectric polymer is heated at a temperature between a Curie point (Tc) and a melting point (Tm) of the ferroelectric polymer to cause a change in conformation of the ferroelectric polymer from the first conformation state to a second conformation state, and is then subjected to a nanoimprinting process at an imprinting temperature lower than Tc to cause a change in conformation of the ferroelectric polymer from the second conformation state to a third conformation state that is different from the first conformation state, thereby obtaining the nanoimprinted film.

Abstract: An inkjet printing method for forming a continuous three-dimensional structure is disclosed. A pre-patterned temporary structure is formed on a substrate for defining a filling groove on the substrate. An inkjet printing process is performed for filling the ink droplets into the filling groove. The ink droplets cover the filling groove and contact the surface of the temporary structure and the substrate at the same time. A self-aligned effect is formed by a composition of the gravity of the ink droplets, a surface tension between the ink droplets and the temporary structure, and a surface tension between the ink droplets and the substrate. When the ink droplets are solidified, a standalone continuous three-dimensional structure is formed by removing the temporary structure. The geometry of the continuous three-dimensional structure can be defined by the temporary structure; therefore a small track width of the solidified ink droplets can be obtained.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid nanomaterial electrode, comprising a pair of spaced-apart electrodes, at least three pairs of metallic nanowires disposed between the electrodes and respectively connected with the electrodes, and at least a detecting material connecting with the metallic nanowires. The detecting material is formed as a semiconductor nanostructure or a conductor nanostructure. The hybrid nanomaterial electrode of the present invention can be used in a gas detector for detecting volatile organic compounds, and has the advantage of providing high sensitivity, low detection limit, and the ability to operate at room temperature.

Abstract: A method for fabricating microfluidic structures is provided. The method includes: a belt is provided and an adhesion layer is formed on at least one surface of the belt; the belt is cut for forming a first microfluidic channel thereon, wherein the first microfluidic channel has an accommodating space; a second microfluidic channel is provided, wherein a line-width of the second microfluidic channel is smaller than a line-width of the first microfluidic channel; the second microfluidic channel is disposed in the accommodating space of the first microfluidic channel; and a substrate is adhered to the belt via the adhesion layer.

Abstract: The present invention is a C-reactive protein imprinted polymer film. The C-reactive protein antibody imprinted polymer film comprises a plurality of imprinted nanocavities with unified orientation and distribution formed by removing a plurality of C-reactive proteins from a polymer film. Its ability to capture the target proteins can achieve 99% compared with the natural antibodies. The present invention further provides a C-reactive protein microchip system formed by the dynamic capacitance sensing method with the above imprinted polymer film. The C-reactive protein microchip system comprises a body having a first chamber and a second chamber, and a detector.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer thin film is provided, which is promoting an electric output of a piezoelectric polymer and includes: a mixing step including: forming a piezoelectric solution by dissolving a PVDF-TrFE in an active solvent; forming a conductive solution by dissolving a PEDOT:PSS in a water; and forming a piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer solution by mixing the piezoelectric solution and the conductive solution; a filming step, wherein the piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer solution is heated, thus the piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer thin film is formed; and an anneal step, wherein the piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer thin film is recrystallized and a nano-sized protruding structure is formed on a surface of the piezoelectric/conductive hybrid polymer thin film.

Abstract: A method of determining an analyte concentration employs a biosensor that includes a molecularly imprinted polymer film formed on a metal layer. The biosensor is connected to a charge/discharge circuit and charged and discharged during exposure to a solution containing an analyte. Voltage values during discharge are measured, and a characteristic parameter of the voltage values, which is associated with a concentration of the analyte detected by the biosensor, is determined. An unknown concentration of the analyte is determined by comparing the characteristic parameter to reference data representing a relation between known concentration of the analyte and the characteristic parameter of the biosensor. A biosensor, such as an anesthetic biosensor, is also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hybrid nanomaterial electrode, comprising a pair of spaced-apart electrodes, at least three pairs of metallic nanowires disposed between the electrodes and respectively connected with the electrodes, and at least a detecting material connecting with the metallic nanowires. The detecting material is formed as a semiconductor nanostructure or a conductor nanostructure. The hybrid nanomaterial electrode of the present invention can be used in a gas detector for detecting volatile organic compounds, and has the advantage of providing high sensitivity, low detection limit, and the ability to operate at room temperature.

Abstract: A piezoelectric device includes a nanoimprinted film which is made from a ferroelectric polymer having a first conformation state and coated on a substrate. The ferroelectric polymer is heated at a temperature between a Curie point (Tc) and a melting point (Tm) of the ferroelectric polymer to cause a change in conformation of the ferroelectric polymer from the first conformation state to a second conformation state, and is then subjected to a nanoimprinting process at an imprinting temperature lower than Tc to cause a change in conformation of the ferroelectric polymer from the second conformation state to a third conformation state that is different from the first conformation state, thereby obtaining the nanoimprinted film.

Abstract: A method for forming a molecularly imprinted polymer biosensor includes: (a) preparing a reaction solution including an imprinting molecule, a functional monomer, an initiator, and a crosslinking agent; (b) disposing the reaction solution in a space between upper and lower substrates each of which is made of a light-transmissible material; (c) disposing on the upper substrate a photomask having a patterned hole; (d) irradiating the reaction solution through the patterned hole of the photomask and the upper substrate so that the reaction solution undergoes polymerization to form a polymer between the upper and lower substrates; (e) removing the upper substrate after the polymer is formed on the lower substrate; and (f) extracting the imprinting molecule from the polymer so that a patterned molecularly imprinted polymer film is formed on the lower substrate.

Abstract: An inkjet printing method for forming a continuous three-dimensional structure is disclosed. A pre-patterned temporary structure is formed on a substrate for defining a filling groove on the substrate. An inkjet printing process is performed for filling the ink droplets into the filling groove. The ink droplets cover the filling groove and contact the surface of the temporary structure and the substrate at the same time. A self-aligned effect is formed by a composition of the gravity of the ink droplets, a surface tension between the ink droplets and the temporary structure, and a surface tension between the ink droplets and the substrate. When the ink droplets are solidified, a standalone continuous three-dimensional structure is formed by removing the temporary structure. The geometry of the continuous three-dimensional structure can be defined by the temporary structure; therefore a small track width of the solidified ink droplets can be obtained.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes: a shape memory substrate having a shape memory polymer matrix and a plurality of particles embedded in the shape memory polymer matrix, the shape memory polymer matrix being thermally transformable from a temporary shape to an original shape, the particles being made from a magnetically coercive material; and a microfluidic chip attached sealingly to the shape memory substrate and defining a microfluidic channel. The shape memory polymer matrix is indented inwardly to form an indented space in fluid communication with the microfluidic channel when the shape memory polymer matrix is heated to transform from the temporary shape to the original shape.

Abstract: A method of nanoimprinting a piezoelectric polymeric material includes: heating a surface of the piezoelectric polymeric material to an imprinting temperature greater than (Tc?25)° C. and less than Tc, in which Tc is the Curie temperature of the piezoelectric polymeric material; and pressing the heated surface of the piezoelectric polymeric material using a nanoimprinting template having a nanopillar structure so as to form the piezoelectric polymeric material with high aspect ratio nanopillars.

Abstract: A working electrode includes a conducting layer, a carbon nanotube layer electrophoretically deposited on the conducting layer; and a gold nanoparticle layer sputter-deposited on the carbon nanotube layer. A sensor chip having the working electrode and a method of fabricating the working electrode are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of nanoimprinting a piezoelectric polymeric material includes: heating a surface of the piezoelectric polymeric material to an imprinting temperature greater than (Tc?25) ° C. and less than Tc, in which Tc is the Curie temperature of the piezoelectric polymeric material; and pressing the heated surface of the piezoelectric polymeric material using a nanoimprinting template having a nanopillar structure so as to form the piezoelectric polymeric material with high aspect ratio nanopillars.

Abstract: A microfluidic device includes: a shape memory substrate having a shape memory polymer matrix and a plurality of particles embedded in the shape memory polymer matrix, the shape memory polymer matrix being thermally transformable from a temporary shape to an original shape, the particles being made from a magnetically coercive material; and a microfluidic chip attached sealingly to the shape memory substrate and defining a microfluidic channel. The shape memory polymer matrix is indented inwardly to form an indented space in fluid communication with the microfluidic channel when the shape memory polymer matrix is heated to transform from the temporary shape to the original shape.

Abstract: A method of determining an analyte concentration employs a biosensor that includes a molecularly imprinted polymer film formed on a metal layer. The biosensor is connected to a charge/discharge circuit and charged and discharged during exposure to a solution containing an analyte. Voltage values during discharge are measured, and a characteristic parameter of the voltage values, which is associated with a concentration of the analyte detected by the biosensor, is determined. An unknown concentration of the analyte is determined by comparing the characteristic parameter to reference data representing a relation between known concentration of the analyte and the characteristic parameter of the biosensor. A biosensor, such as an anesthetic biosensor, is also disclosed.