Microfluidic flow tuning via asymmetric flow of nematic liquid crystal under temperature gradient

In this work, efficient microfluidic flow rate tuning based on the asymmetric flow of nematic liquid crystal 5CB under a horizontal temperature gradient is studied. Rectangular microchannels with the width of 100 μm are fabricated through soft lithography and treated with homeotropic surface anchoring conditions. Polarized optical microscopy is applied to explore the unique optical anisotropic characteristics of the nematic liquid crystal. The asymmetric velocity profiles in the microchannel are obtained by particle tracking velocimetry. The effects of temperature, flow rate, and aspect ratio on the velocity profile and split ratio of the asymmetric flow are quantitatively studied for the first time, while the mechanism of the flow asymmetry of the nematic liquid crystal is discussed. The results show that the asymmetric flow of the nematic liquid crystal occurs after the horizontal temperature gradient is applied, with the velocity in the heated region markedly higher than its counterpart. The split ratio of the asymmetric flow increases with the increase in the temperature gradient and the decrease in the flow rate. The aspect ratio influences the asymmetric flow through approaches of average velocity and surface anchoring strength, while the former is more distinct. The impacts of temperature gradient, flow rate, and aspect ratio on the flow asymmetry of nematic liquid crystals are caused by the coupling between physical properties, velocity field, and director field. Microchannels based on the asymmetric flow characteristics of nematic liquid crystals can act as a novel kind of temperature-controlled microvalve to achieve efficient microfluidic flow tuning.