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PI Physik Instrumente - Revolution In Photonics Align LW LB 3/24

Could optofluidics solve the energy challenge?

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Marie Freebody, Contributing Editor, [email protected]

Optofluidics could be poised to revolutionize energy production, according to Demetri Psaltis, dean of the engineering school at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland. Optofluidics is the combination of optics and microfluidics, the delivery of fluids through extremely small channels or tubes. Optofluidic principles for energy production can already be found at work where prisms and mirrors on the roofs of homes and buildings are commonly used to direct and concentrate sunlight to heat water. Psaltis believes that by taking this a step...Read full article

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    Published: November 2011
    Glossary
    fresnel lens
    A lens resembling a planoconvex or planoconcave lens that is cut into narrow rings and flattened. If the steps are narrow, the surface of each step is generally made conical and not spherical. Fresnel lenses can be large glass structures as in lighthouses, floodlights or traffic signals, or thin molded plastic plates with fine steps; often used for field lenses.
    microfluidics
    Microfluidics is a multidisciplinary field that involves the manipulation and control of very small fluid volumes, typically in the microliter (10-6 liters) to picoliter (10-12 liters) range, within channels or devices with dimensions on the microscale. It integrates principles from physics, chemistry, engineering, and biotechnology to design and fabricate systems that handle and analyze fluids at the micro level. Key features and aspects of microfluidics include: Miniaturization:...
    nano
    An SI prefix meaning one billionth (10-9). Nano can also be used to indicate the study of atoms, molecules and other structures and particles on the nanometer scale. Nano-optics (also referred to as nanophotonics), for example, is the study of how light and light-matter interactions behave on the nanometer scale. See nanophotonics.
    optofluidics
    Optofluidics is an interdisciplinary field that combines principles from optics and fluidics to create devices and systems that integrate the manipulation of light and fluids. This field focuses on the interaction between light and fluidic materials, allowing for the development of innovative technologies with applications in areas such as sensing, imaging, and biotechnology. Key aspects of optofluidics include: Integration of optics and fluidics: Optofluidic devices are designed to...
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