On-chip characterization of the viscoelasticity of complex fluids using microcantilevers

Due to the need for a microrheometer monitoring the high‐frequency viscoelasticity of soft matter in situ, we describe a cantilever‐based microrheometer to achieve this purpose. The elastic and viscous moduli of complex fluids can be measured with an acceptable accuracy over a high frequency bandwidth of 1‐100 kHz. Some preliminary data on small samples (~10‐100 μL) of simple Newtonian and viscoelastic polymer and surfactant solutions showed the ability to measure the dynamic moduli in the range of 0.01‐ 10 kPa. This approach will provide a new way to characterize in situ, dynamic microrheology of minute and trace materials and will advance the field of biorheology, microfluidics, and polymer processing. * Corresponding author Prof. Isabelle Dufour Université de Bordeaux, IMS, UMR 5218, F‐33400 Talence, France. Tel. +33540006554, Fax. +3355637 1545 E‐mail : isabelle.dufour@ims‐bordeaux.fr Preprint: Measurement Science and Technology, Vol. 23, 2012, 125306 (10pp)