ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION:

Project Name:

Project Number, if known:

Nanofluidic Characterization and Measurement through Nanoporous
Membranes
P13373
Preferred Start/End Quarter in Senior Design:
Team #1: Fall (2012-1) & Winter (2012-2)
 Faculty Champion: (technical mentor: supports proposal development, anticipated technical mentor
during project execution; may also be Sponsor)
Name
Michael Schrlau, PhD
Dept.
ME
Email
mgseme@rit.edu
Phone
(585) 475-2139
For assistance identifying a Champion: B. Debartolo (ME), G. Slack (EE), J. Kaemmerlen (ISE), R. Melton
(CE)
 Other Support, if
the Faculty Champion)
known: (faculty or others willing to provide expertise in areas outside the domain of
Project “Guide” if known: Bill Nowak

Primary Customer, if known (name, phone, email): (actual or representative user of project
output; articulates needs/requirements)
Name
Michael Schrlau, PhD

Dept.
ME
Email
mgseme@rit.edu
Phone
(585) 475-2139
Sponsor(s): (provider(s) of financial support)
Name/Organization
Michael Schrlau, PhD
PRP, Rev 7/22/11
Contact Info.
mgseme@rit.edu
(585) 475-2139
Type & Amount of Support
Committed
TBD
Page 1 of 5
Nanofluidic Characterization and Measurement through Nanoporous Membranes
PROJECT SUMMARY
The goal of the project is to develop a means to characterize and measure nanofluidic flow
through membranes consisting of many nanoscale channels. The objectives of the project will to
design, construct, and test a flow measurement system for commercially available nanoporous
membranes. The developed instrument will provide needed quantitative fluid flow
measurements at the nanoscale and immediately impact the nanobiotechnology research and
educational activities within RIT’s Nano-Bio Interface Laboratory (NBIL).
INTRODUCTION AND MOTIVATION
Studies of fluid flow in small diameter capillaries gained attention early on. Poiseuille
(1846) carried out his seminal experiments with glass capillaries with diameters as small as
29µm. Likewise, of considerable interest are the characteristics of the fluid flow through
capillaries of even smaller diameter since it has been predicted that, at some point, fluid behavior
deviates from classical continuum behavior. For this reason, nanostructures, specifically carbon
nanotubes (CNTs), are attractive for fluidic studies at extremely small scales. Sinha et al. (2007)
carried out flow measurements through carbon nanopipes produced with alumina membrane
templates. Here, a two-drop technique was used to obtain flow rate as a function of the pressure
drop and the results were compared with theoretical predictions to obtain the apparent viscosity
of the liquid. However, the task of measuring the flow rate through a single nanopipe is quite
challenging and time consuming. Using the two drop technique, Sinha et al. (2007) carried out
experiments with tubes as small as 60nm in diameter and did not observe any significant
deviations from classical behavior. In other words, the liquid respected the non-slip boundary
condition at the solid boundaries.
To overcome the difficulties of studying fluid flow through individual tubes, many
researchers have carried out flow rate measurements with both naturally occurring and synthetic
membranes rather than individual tubes. Debye and Cleland (1959) and Anderson and Quinn
(1972) used, respectively, porous Vicor glass and polymer, track-etched membranes. More
recently, Hinds et al. (2004) and Majumder et al. (2005) carried out liquid flow measurements
and observed flow rates four to five orders of magnitude greater than predicted based on
accepted values of bulk viscosity and the non-slip condition. In a similar set of experiments,
Holt et al. (2006) grew double-walled, carbon nanotubes with inner diameters of about 2 nm on
silicon substrate patterned with catalyst particles and found water flow rates were 560-8400
times the values predicted by classical theory. Bau et al. (2004) and Lauga et al. (2005) both
review these experiments and summarize the available data in tables that include the reported
slip lengths. More recently, Whitby and Quirke (2007) review fluid flow in CNTs and discuss
possible applications.
The available experimental data indicates significant differences in liquid flow behavior at
the nanoscale. These striking differences in behavior are most likely due to the differences in
morphology and properties. However, more testing is needed, thus the motivation for this
project.
PROJECT OBJECTIVES
The two main objectives of this project are to (1) design an instrument to measure fluid flow
through commercially available nanoporous membranes, (2) build the measurement system, and
(3) test and compare the measurements to results obtained previously and theoretical predictions.
PRP, Rev 8/20/11
Page 2 of 5
DETAILED PROJECT DESCRIPTION
A. Customer Needs and Objectives
Customer
Need #
Import
ance
CN 1
CN 2
CN 3
CN 4
CN 5
CN 6
CN 7
CN 8
CN 9
CN 10
CN 11
CN 12
CN 13
CN 14
CN 15
CN 16
CN 17
CN 18
CN 19
CN 20
CN 21
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
2
1
1
3
2
3
3
2
Description
Portable to move between different platforms and easy to setup
User friendly and easy to operate
Easy to maintain
System must have hard piping
System must have a frame
Compatible with different membrane sizes
Capability to bleed the system to eliminate air bubbles or exchange fluid
Measuring the pressure before and after the membrane
Measuring the temperature before and after the membrane
Measuring the flow rate before and after the membrane
Real time visualization of the data (Pressure, Temperature and Flow Rate)
Storing and manipulating the visualized data
Easy to assemble and disassemble
Electronically automated pressure driven flow
Ability to visualize the membrane
Ability to inject secondary fluid into primary flow stream
Able to fit under microscope
Software is RIT owned, custom developed or readily available freeware
Ability to acquire selected measurements
Ability to compare selected measurements
Adjustable Sampling rate
B. Functional Decomposition
TBD
C. Potential Concepts
The recommended path forward for the project team is to (1) identify the main components
in the project and how they need to interface, (2) divide up the work to tackle the main
components individually keeping in mind how they interface with each other, (3) bring them
together and interface when appropriate at different development stages (e.g. initial interfacing
early on to quickly identify key problems areas, then subsequent interfacing to refine
integration). Regardless, the team will need to plan and time individual component activities and
systems integration to be successful.
PRP, Rev 7/22/11
Page 3 of 5
Nanofluidic Characterization and Measurement through Nanoporous Membranes
D. Specifications
Source
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
S9
S 10
S 11
Functi
on
CN 6
All
CN 8
CN 8
CN 10
CN 10
CN 9
CN 9
CN 21
CN 21
Specification (metric)
Unit of
Measure
Marginal Value
Ideal
Value
Test rig size limit (l x w x h)
Membrane diameter
Development cost
Measuring pressure range
Measuring pressure accuracy
Measuring flow rate range
Measuring flow rate accuracy
Measuring temperature range
Measuring temperature accuracy
Fine sampling rate
Coarse sampling rate
mm
mm
$
kPa
Pa
mL/min
femtoliter/s
ᵒC
ᵒC
per second
per minute
200x120x100
13 - 25
< 2,500
< 500
0.1
0 - 10
1
-20 - 100
0.01
100
1
S1
S2
S3
S4
S5
S6
S7
S8
S9
S 10
S 11
E. Constraints
1) Developed system consists of its own parts (i.e., does not require NBIL parts to operate).
2) Project will need to purchase the commercially available membranes for testing.
3) Training must be completed before handling any high-cost instrumentation, including the
optical microscope or compressed gas cylinders.
F. Project Deliverables
1) A functioning measurement system.
2) Report detailing all design and development processes, highlighting the end design and
future improvements.
3) A Manual detailing all design components, manufacturer and part numbers of third party
items, the function and operation of each component and key contacts for future
questions.
4) Tutorial guide to intuitively instruct others on how to use the designed tool.
5) Design and project reviews.
6) Attendance by at least one group member to the 2013 Imagine RIT to showcase the
system.
G. Budget Estimate
$2,500
H. Intellectual Property (IP) considerations
Any IP generated as a result of this project will belong to RIT and its inventers.
I. Other Information
PRP, Rev 8/20/11
Page 4 of 5
None
J. Continuation Project Information
None
STUDENT STAFFING
Discipline
ME
How Many?
3-4
Anticipated Skills Needed
Responsible for designing the fluidic systems and measurement
approach as well as choosing appropriate components and sensors.
Will be constructing the system and testing its capabilities. Will be
conducting actual measurements and comparing to reported
results. Will need to predict classical fluid behavior throught the
porous membrane and compare these predicts to their experimental
results. Anticipated skills include, CAD, MatLAB, LabView, data
acquisition, comfort with hydraulics and/or piping.
OTHER RESOURCES ANTICIPATED
Category
Resource
Available?
Description
Faculty
Environment
MSD Design Center
Machine Shop & Brinkman lab
Nano-Bio Interface Laboratory (NBIL, Schrlau’s Laboratory)
Equipment
Inverted Microscope (NBIL)
Upright Microscope (NBIL)
Materials
Various materials and accessories (NBIL)
Other
Technical Expertise (Microscopy and manipulator – Schrlau, Piezoelectric
actuators - New Scale Technologies)
Prepared by:
PRP, Rev 7/22/11
Michael Schrlau
Date:
08/25/2012
Page 5 of 5