Micro distillation system on chip utilizing selective modification gas-liquid separator and capillary condensation in nanostructure

This paper reports a novel distillation method in microchannel. For gas-liquid separator at evaporation part, hydrophilic-hydrophobic patterned microchannel structure was utilized. In order to control condensation of the evaporated vapor, nanopillar structures were fabricated after the separator. In the nanopillars, vapor pressure is lower than that at flat liquid surface, which is so-called capillary condensation. An aqueous solution of 10% ethanol was used as a model sample, and clear gas-liquid separation and condensation in the nanopillar were observed.