T0501-4-2 Pressure Measurements of Micro Gas Flow using Pressure Sensitive Dye

Abstract

To analyze micro-scale flows, we need a measurement technique of the molecular level. The pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) technique employs the interactions between luminophores and oxygen molecules; hence it is suitable for pressure measurement in the flows. However, there are few reports concerning application of PSP to fnicro-flows, because conventional PSPs are too thick owing to their polymer binders. Therefore, we had developed pressure-sensitive molecular film (PSMF) with a thickness of about 1Onm by using the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique, and obtained the pressure distribution on the surface along micro-channels. PSMF is, however, inferior to the ordinary PSP in the signal-to-noise ratio, because of the small amount of luminophores in the film. In this study, based on PSP and soft lithography techniques, we have developed a novel micro fluidic channel itself has a pressure sensitive property, emitting appreciable luminescence. Additionally, we investigated the pressure sensitivity of this new PSP device, and measured the pressure along a micro-nozzle.