Micropumps based on the enhanced electroosmotic effect of aluminum oxide membranes

We have successfully decorated Micro-/nanochannel surfaces of annealed anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes are decorated to greatly enhance their electroosmotic effect as well as the structural stability. The micro/nanopumps made from annealed AAO membranes with thin silica coating on the inner surfaces of the nanochannels exhibited a large dynamic range of pumping rates, low operating voltages and high maximum flow rates