Aaron D. Mazzeo

Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey | Rutgers · Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Paper-based biosensors are a potential paradigm of sensitivity achieved via microporous spreading/microfluidics, simplicity, and affordability. In this paper, we develop decorated paper with graphene and conductive polymer (herein referred to as graphene conductive polymer paper-based sensor or GCPPS) for sensitive detection of biomolecules. Planet...

Two types of cold plasma generating paper-based electrodes (CPPE) made with flexible metallized paper were developed to decontaminate fresh produce. As opposed to conventional rigid volume dielectric barrier discharge electrodes currently used for in-package plasma generation for which voltage increases as a function of thickness, two flexible CPPE...

This work presents a unique approach to the design, fabrication, and characterization of paper-based origami robotic systems consisting of stackable pneumatic actuators. These paper-based actuators (PBAs) use materials with high elastic modulus-to-mass ratios, accordion-like structures, and direct coupling with pneumatic pressure for extension and...

This article describes a process of fabricating highly porous paper from cellulosic fibers and carbon black (CB) with tunable conductivity. By embossing such paper, its porosity decreases while its conductivity increases. Tuning the porosity of composite paper alters the magnitude and trend of conductivity over a spectrum of concentrations of condu...

This letter presents an experimental study and the associated numerical modeling of fast-curing, thermosetting droplets spreading on a heated surface. The results show a significant morphological dependence of the spreading droplets of Ecoflex 0050 (a heat-sensitive, platinum-catalyzed silicone material) on thermal conditions. Differential scanning...

The objective of this chapter is to describe the enabling material properties of paper, its associated advances in flexible and stretchable electronic devices, and unresolved challenges. As a material, paper has tunable properties that make completed devices lightweight, inexpensive, sustainable, or compatible with scalable processing. Beyond keepi...

Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter includes a laminated robotic actuator. The laminated robotic actuator includes a strain-limiting layer comprising a flexible, non extensible material in the form of a sheet or thin film, a flexible inflatable layer in the form of a thin film or sheet in facing relationship with the strain-limiting la...

This work describes disposable plasma generators made from metallized paper. The fabricated plasma generators with layered and patterned sheets of paper provide a simple and flexible format for dielectric barrier discharge to create atmospheric plasma without an applied vacuum. The porosity of paper allows gas to permeate its bulk volume and fuel p...

A soft robotic device includes a flexible body having a width, a length and a thickness, wherein the thickness is at least 1 mm, the flexible body having at least one channel disposed within the flexible body, the channel defined by upper, lower and side walls, wherein at least one wall is strain limiting; and a pressurizing inlet in fluid communic...

Unique elastomeric rotary actuators based on pneumatically driven peristaltic motion are demonstrated. Using silicone-based wheels, these motors enable a new class of soft locomotion not found in nature, which is capable of withstanding impact, traversing irregular terrain, and operating in water. For soft robotics, this work marks progress toward...

This work investigates the migration of spherical particles of different sizes in a centrifuge-driven deterministic lateral displacement (c-DLD) device. Specifically, we use a scaled-up model to study the motion of suspended particles through a square array of cylindrical posts under the action of centrifugation. Experiments show that separation of...

Some embodiments of the disclosed subject matter includes a laminated robotic actuator. The laminated robotic actuator includes a strain-limiting layer comprising a flexible, non extensible material in the form of a sheet or thin film, a flexible inflatable layer in the form of a thin film or sheet in facing relationship with the Strain-limiting la...

This work describes a mechanical approach for manipulating the capillary length and spreading of liquid coatings on flexible substrates with high gravity. Experimental verification in the literature has focused on cases under standard gravity on earth, and to the authors' knowledge, this work is the first to explore its relevance to spreading puddl...

This work investigates the migration of spherical particles of different sizes in a centrifuge-driven deterministic lateral displacement (c-DLD) device. Specifically, we use a scaled-up model to study the motion of suspended particles through a square array of cylindrical posts under the action of centrifugation. Experiments show that separation of...

This paper investigates and characterizes the aerodynamic performance of a unique platform of airfoils with inflatable, elastomeric actuators. By controlling the actuators integrated in 3D-printed airfoils, it is possible to manipulate aerodynamic lift and drag. The pseudo flap can increase lift by a factor of 20-300%. The top-front inflated design...

One strategy for actuating soft machines (e.g., tentacles, grippers, and simple walkers) uses pneumatic inflation of networks of small channels in an elastomeric material. Although the management of a few pneumatic inputs and valves to control pressurized gas is straightforward, the fabrication and operation of manifolds containing many (>50) indep...

In vitro 3D culture could provide an important model of tissues in vivo, but assessing the effects of chemical compounds on cells in specific regions of 3D culture requires physical isolation of cells and thus currently relies mostly on delicate and low-throughput methods. This paper describes a technique ("cells-in-gels-in-paper", CiGiP) that perm...

This work describes the centrifugal casting and fast curing of double-sided, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS)-based components with microfeatures. Centrifugal casting permits simultaneous patterning of multiple sides of a component and allows control of the thickness of the part in an enclosed mold without entrapment of bubbles. Spinning molds filled wi...

Microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (μPADs) use the passive capillary-driven flow of aqueous solutions through patterned paper channels to transport a sample fluid into distinct detection zones that contain the reagents for a chemical assay. These devices are simple, affordable, portable, and disposable; they are, thus, well suited for diag...

Soft robots have emerged as a new set of machines capable of manipulation [1–4] and locomotion. [5–8] Pneumatic expansion of a network of microchannels (pneu-nets) fabricated in organic elastomers, using low-pressure air (< 10 psi; 0.7 atm; 71 kPa), provides a simple method of achieving complex move-ments: [1, 5] grasping and walking. Despite their...

Metallized paper is patterned to create touch pads of arrayed buttons that are sensitive to contact with both bare and gloved fingers. The paper-based keypad detects the change in capacitance associated with the touch of a finger to one of its buttons. Mounted on an alarmed cardboard box, the keypad requires the appropriate sequence of touches to d...

Material innovation will be a key feature in the next generation of robots. A simple, pneumatically powered actuator composed of only soft-elastomers can perform the function of a complex arrangement of mechanical components and electric motors. This talk will focus on soft-lithography as a simple method to fabricate robots--composed of exclusively...

This article models bubble removal in centrifugal casting of the thermosetting silicone polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Given spin speeds, mold geometry, and resin properties for centrifugal casting, it is possible to predict the amount of spin time required to produce bubble-free parts. For the particular conditions and materials considered in this w...

This manuscript describes a unique class of locomotive robot: A soft robot, composed exclusively of soft materials (elastomeric polymers), which is inspired by animals (e.g., squid, starfish, worms) that do not have hard internal skeletons. Soft lithography was used to fabricate a pneumatically actuated robot capable of sophisticated locomotion (e....

The combustion of hydrocarbon flames generates significant amounts of charged species including positive and negatively charged ions, electrons, as well as charged carbonaceous particles (“soot”). Importantly, the movement of these species under the influence of an external electric field can induce hydrodynamic flows with the potential to enhance,...

This paper presents a proof-of-principle method, called InfoBiology, to write and encode data using arrays of genetically engineered strains of Escherichia coli with fluorescent proteins (FPs) as phenotypic markers. In InfoBiology, we encode, send, and release information using living organisms as carriers of data. Genetically engineered systems of...

Magnetic fields template the self-assembly of 2D mesoscale optical components consisting of magnetically responsive parts at a liquid-liquid interface. These optical components are tiles of reflective diffraction gratings. Their orientations, and the resulting optical effects, are reconfigurable by a change in the magnetic field. Transferring the a...

Soft robots: A methodology based on embedded pneumatic networks (PneuNets) is described that enables large-amplitude actuations in soft elastomers by pressurizing embedded channels. Examples include a structure that can change its curvature from convex to concave, and devices that act as compliant grippers for handling fragile objects (e.g., a chic...

This communication describes a simple method for printing aqueous solutions with millimeter-scale patterns on a variety of substrates using an easily fabricated, paper-based microfluidic device (a paper-based "stamp") as a contact printing device. The device is made from inexpensive materials, and it is easily assembled by hand; this method is thus...

We demonstrate liquid ``wires'' in a simple solution measurement device. This device highlights the possibility of fabricating liquid circuits. These ``wires'' were formed by filling micro-milled PMMA channels with 5M NaCl solution. Wires were connected to these salt solution channels; the impedance of a test channel filled with solution was measur...

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2009. Cataloged from PDF version of thesis. Includes bibliographical references (p. 237-248). The thermosetting resin polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is commonly used to prototype micro and nano featured components. In the field of microfluidics, PDMS-based devices...

Microfluidic devices play a crucial role in biology, life sciences and many other fields. Three aspects have to be considered in production of microfluidic devices: (i) material properties before and after processing, (ii) tooling and processing methodologies, and (iii) measurements for process control. This paper presents a review of these three a...

Tooling is especially critical for micro-molding of polymers because the tool defines the geometry of the finished part. Various tool materials and processes have been demonstrated, including etched silicon, machined or electroformed metal, and molded polymers. Adhesion of the part to the tool and differential thermal contraction are frequently cit...

The emerging demand for microfluidic devices is driving decisions for product and manufacturing development. Three potential categories for microfluidic device manufacturing are hot embossing, injection molding, and liquid resin molding. We review the first two, along with two sub-categories of liquid resin molding: polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) cast...

Imprinting processes show remarkable potential for manufacturing devices with micro-to nanometer-scale features and planar 2-D geometry for a variety of applications. This work specifically considers tooling for thermoplastic imprinting processes such as hot micro-embossing (HME), and applications where the imprint process produces the actual funct...