Metallic nitrides generating slippery, lubricant-infused porous surface (SLIPS) sensing units in a microfluidic e-tongue

• Grant number: 24/19043-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: September 01, 2025
• End date: August 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Interdisciplinary Subjects
• Principal Investigator: Antonio Riul Júnior
• Grantee: Endel Ezequiel Carvalho Costa
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física Gleb Wataghin (IFGW). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Cross-contamination and fouling formation are recurring problems in prolonged analyses of liquid systems in electronic tongues, leading to inaccurate results and compromising the integrity of the data obtained. Fouling leads to unwanted build-up of materials in the microchannels and sensing units, which can result in blockages and measurement changes, particularly for the microfluidic electronic tongues we work with. These problems lead to the need for extensive washing, device replacement, and frequent maintenance, despite being a barrier to the efficiency and accuracy of analyses, making continuous monitoring and rapid decision-making difficult. As a solution, we propose the development of SLIPS (Slippery Liquid-Infused Porous Surfaces) with metal nitrides that will be deposited using the DGLAD technique and used as sensing units in an e-tongue. These SLIPS surfaces are designed with a hydrophobic liquid infiltrated into a porous structure, creating a lubricating layer that provides sliding properties. In this sense, we chose the DGLAD technique due to the control offered in the thickness and porosity of the films formed. This makes liquids, including contaminants and oily materials, slide easily over this surface, minimizing contact and unwanted adhesion of materials. This characteristic contributes to efficient self-cleaning, facilitating the removal of contaminants and reducing the need for cleaning and cross-contamination. After all characterizations, we will apply these SLIPS surfaces to the analysis of drugs usually processed on oily bases, verifying the sensitivity and reliability of the results, thus contributing to a more accurate and faster diagnosis in sensor analyses. We highlight the novelty of the proposal and the possibility of solving one of the most recurrent problems in prolonged analyses of various liquid systems. (AU)