Laser Modification of Preformed Polymer Microchannels:  Application To Reduce Band Broadening around Turns Subject to Electrokinetic Flow

A pulsed UV excimer laser (KrF, 248 nm) was used to modify the surface charge on the side wall of hot-embossed microchannels fabricated in a poly(methyl methacrylate) substrate. Subablation level fluences, less than 2385 mJ/cm2, were used to prevent any changes in the physical morphology of the surface. It is shown that the electroosmotic mobility, induced by an electric field applied along the length of the channel, increases by an average of 4% in the regions that have been exposed to UV laser pulses compared to nonexposed regions. Furthermore, application of UV modification to electroosmotic flow around a 90° turn results in a decrease in band broadening, as measured by the average decrease in the plate height of 40% compared to flow around a nonmodified turn. The ability to modify the surface charge on specific surfaces within a preformed plastic microchannel allows for fine control, adjustment, and modulation of the electroosmotic flow without using wall coatings or changing the geometry of the channel to achieve the desired flow profile.