Novel High Pressure Pump-on-a-Chip Technology

HJ Science & Technology, Inc. proposes to develop a novel high pressure "pump-on-a-chip" (HPPOC) technology capable of generating high pressure and flow rate on the microchip level. When combined with a "valve-on-a-chip" (VOC) platform, HPPOC is naturally suited for NASA planetary science applications including on-chip HPLC sample manipulation and analysis. In Phase I, we have established the technical feasibility of the technology by fabricating a set of HPPOC chips and successfully demonstrating the required maximum pressures and flow rates. In addition, we have also established a novel HPPOC actuated VOC platform. In Phase II, we will construct, test, and deliver a high performance and low power consumption microfluidic sample manipulation manifold prototype. In particular, we will build an integrated on-chip HPLC buffer and sample injection pump and valve manifold specifically engineered to support the chip-based LC-MS research effort at GSFC. In addition, the Phase II work will also be performed in parallel with efforts to develop such manifolds for the commercial analytical markets.