Provided in some aspects are methods for light-controlled in situ surface patterning of a substrate comprising a step of blocking or ablating oligonucleotide molecules in a boundary region separating a plurality of spot regions, and attaching oligonucleotides to oligonucleotide molecules in a first one or more of the spot regions.

Various implementations provide an inherently safer design feature for microchannel reactors that provides temperature control at the individual channel level. This approach relies on bimetallic strips embedded within the combustion channel, forming a thermally-actuated valve. Bimetallic strips convert a temperature change into a mechanical displacement. Heating the strip increases its deflection and thereby restricts flow in the combustion channels, which consequently reduces the rate of heat generation. The thermally-actuated valve is not limited to use in microchannel reactors and may be used in other structures for which thermally actuated flow control is desired, according to some implementations.

A microfluidic platform is disclosed that uses obstacles placed at particular location(s) within the channel cross-section to turn and stretch fluid. The asymmetric flow behavior upstream and downstream of the obstacle(s) due to fluid inertia manifests itself as a total deformation of the topology of streamlines that effectively creates a tunable net secondary flow. The system and methods passively creates strong secondary flows at moderate to high flow rates in microchannels. These flows can be accurately controlled by the numbers and particular geometric placement of the obstacle(s) within the channel.

A device and a process for forming a monolithic substantially closed-porosity ceramic fluidic device having a tortuous fluid passage extending through the device, the tortuous fluid passage having a smooth interior surface, a material of the ceramic body having a continuous and uniform distribution of grains at least between opposed major surfaces of the ceramic body. The process includes positioning a positive fluid passage mold within a volume of binder-coated ceramic powder, pressing the volume of ceramic powder with the mold inside to form a pressed body, heating the pressed body to remove the mold, and sintering the pressed body. A relationship between a first stability characteristic of the volume of ceramic powder and a second stability characteristic of the mold prevents discontinuities in the pressed body after pressing and/or during heating.

The present disclosure provides an apparatus for synthesizing a biopolymer, a method for preparing an apparatus for synthesizing a biopolymer, and a method of synthesizing a biopolymer. The apparatus comprises (a) a substrate comprising atop surface and a plurality of wells, wherein each of the plurality of wells comprises a first electrode disposed on the bottom of the well and a linker attached to the sides of the well; and (b) a fluidic chamber system disposed on the top surface of the substrate.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for producing trichlorosilane from tetrachlorosilane in an efficient manner. The apparatus includes an inlet through which reaction raw materials including a metal silicon powder dispersed in liquid tetrachlorosilane enter, a hole through which a gaseous reaction raw material is fed, an outlet through which reaction products including trichlorosilane exit, a tubular reactor in which the reaction raw materials entering through the inlet react with each other during flow, and means for impeding the flow of the fluids to cause collision of the fluids during flow.

Disclosed microscale reactors comprise lamina for carrying out multi-phase reactions for making desired chemical products, such as biohydrogenated diesel (BHD). Microreactor embodiments include a bottom clamp plate, a top clamp plate, and at least one catalyst plate positioned between and operatively associated with the bottom clamp plate and the top clamp plate. Catalyst plates include a catalyst associated for catalyzing the production of product from feedstock. To address the problems encountered when using microchannel reactors, the microscale-based reactors may include a mixer plate assembly and/or at least one catalyst lamina comprising an array of microscale posts. Disclosed microreactor systems for producing BHD include a feedstock source, a hydrogen source and an inert gas source each fluidly coupled to respective microreactor inlets. Certain method embodiments include operating a microreactor or a microreactor system to produce BHD from a suitable feedstock selected from animal fats, vegetable oils, or combinations thereof.

Systems and methods for confining droplets within a microfluidic channel as well as systems and methods for packing droplets are provided. More specifically, a system and method are provided for controlling the introduction and removal of oil into a microfluidic channel in order to control where drops are allowed to flow within that channel.

Disclosed microscale reactors comprise lamina for carrying out multi-phase reactions for making desired chemical products, such as biohydrogenated diesel (BHD). Microreactor embodiments include a bottom clamp plate, a top clamp plate, and at least one catalyst plate positioned between and operatively associated with the bottom clamp plate and the top clamp plate. Catalyst plates include a catalyst associated for catalyzing the production of product from feedstock. To address the problems encountered when using microchannel reactors, the microscale-based reactors may include a mixer plate assembly and/or at least one catalyst lamina comprising an array of microscale posts. Disclosed microreactor systems for producing BHD include a feedstock source, a hydrogen source and an inert gas source each fluidly coupled to respective microreactor inlets. Certain method embodiments include operating a microreactor or a microreactor system to produce BHD from a suitable feedstock selected from animal fats, vegetable oils, or combinations thereof.

A process for continuous preparation of halogenated alkoxyethane of general formula XClHCCF.sub.2OR, where X is Cl or F and OR is C.sub.1-4 alkoxy, the process comprising a step of introducing in a plate reactor reaction components comprising (i) a compound of general formula XClC?CF.sub.2, (ii) a base, and (iii) a C.sub.1-4 alkanol, wherein a) the plate reactor comprises a fluidic module defining one or more fluidic path(s) through which the reaction components flow as a reaction mixture, and b) the halogenated alkoxyethane is formed at least upon the reaction components mixing, with the so formed halogenated alkoxyethane flowing out of the plate reactor in a reactor effluent.