Fast Prototyping of Silica Glass Microfluidic Chips: The Sol–Gel Route

A combination of material, patterning, and sealing method is introduced to replicate and assemble monolithic microfluidic chips made of hybrid silica glass (HSG). First, it is shown how to prepare sols suited to the replication of complex geometries out of range of conventional etching methods. Second, it is shown how to tailor the surface properties of HSG devices. The performances and the simplicity of this fast prototyping method are demonstrated using quantitative mechanical, optical, and physicochemical characterization techniques and benchmark microfluidic experiments. Finally, the high potential of HSG microfluidics to oil-recovery and chemistry applications in benchmark experiments on crude oils is established.