Abstract

µ-BEC:

The stud

µ-BEC:

The study of microbes performing extracellular electron uptake (EEU) has multiple uses for biotechnological applications. To that end, a high-throughput platform comprising an array of bioelectrochemical cells (essentially small chambers for electrochemical analysis of biological cells) is necessary to provide the opportunity for proper study of microbes performing EEU. Utilizing traditional cleanroom microfabrication techniques (photolithography, metallization, and lift-off), a 16-chamber micro bio-electrochemical cell (µ-BEC) array was fabricated. Each cell utilized a 3-electrode system, achieving successful electrochemical measurements for 8 of 16 chambers. The 8 chambers that failed exhibited peeling of electrodes due to processing errors. More robust fabrication processes are being explored to improve yield.

IDTs:

µ-BEC:

The study of microbes performing extracellular electron uptake (EEU) has multiple uses for biotechnological applications. To that end, a high-throughput platform comprising an array of bioelectrochemical cells (essentially small chambers for electrochemical analysis of biological cells) is necessary to provide the opportunity for proper study of microbes performing EEU. Utilizing traditional cleanroom microfabrication techniques (photolithography, metallization, and lift-off), a 16-chamber micro bio-electrochemical cell (µ-BEC) array was fabricated. Each cell utilized a 3-electrode system, achieving successful electrochemical measurements for 8 of 16 chambers. The 8 chambers that failed exhibited peeling of electrodes due to processing errors. More robust fabrication processes are being explored to improve yield.

IDTs:

The field of microscale acoustofluidics is extremely useful for numerous bioanalytical applications involved with studying swimming cells including bacteria. To that end, an experiment was performed using acoustic focusing devices that produce standing surface acoustic waves (SSAWs) excited in a piezoelectric substrate by micropatterned interdigital transducers (IDTs). These waves were used to trap bacterial cells at nodes and antinodes of the SSAWs, creating visible patterns. Experiments proved that 2 µm average diameter swimming cells can be successfully patterned with a 24.1-MHz actuation frequency.

y of microbes performing extracellular electron uptake (EEU) has multiple uses for biotechnological applications. To that end, a high-throughput platform comprising an array of bioelectrochemical cells (essentially small chambers for electrochemical analysis of biological cells) is necessary to provide the opportunity for proper study of microbes performing EEU. Utilizing traditional cleanroom microfabrication techniques (photolithography, metallization, and lift-off), a 16-chamber micro bio-electrochemical cell (µ-BEC) array was fabricated. Each cell utilized a 3-electrode system, achieving successful electrochemical measurements for 8 of 16 chambers. The 8 chambers that failed exhibited peeling of electrodes due to processing errors. More robust fabrication processes are being explored to improve yield.

IDTs:

The field of microscale acoustofluidics is extremely useful for numerous bioanalytical applications involved with studying swimming cells including bacteria. To that end, an experiment was performed using acoustic focusing devices that produce standing surface acoustic waves (SSAWs) excited in a piezoelectric substrate by micropatterned interdigital transducers (IDTs). These waves were used to trap bacterial cells at nodes and antinodes of the SSAWs, creating visible patterns. Experiments proved that 2 µm average diameter swimming cells can be successfully patterned with a 24.1-MHz actuation frequency.

Document Type

Final Report

Author's School

McKelvey School of Engineering

Author's Department

Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science

Class Name

Mechanical Engineering and Material Sciences Independent Study

Date of Submission

1-6-2020

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