Raman microspectroscopy/imaging study on phase-vanishing processes of fluorous biphase systems in microchannel-microheater chips.

Temperature-dependent phase-vanishing processes between perfluorohexane (FC-72) and n-heptane (C7H16, volume ratio of 1:1 and phase-vanishing temperature>41 degrees C), were studied in a glass microchannel-microheater chip under solution-flow conditions. Without applying a voltage to the heater at 21 degrees C, the two liquids in the microchannel were separated into two streams at a solution flow rate (v) of 0.975 cm/s, while the phase boundary between FC-72 and C7H16 vanished in the downstream side of the heater at V=4.5 V. Then, we conducted Raman intensity imaging during the phase vanishing processes in the microchannel by monitoring the band at 756 (FC-72) or 1456 cm-1 (C7H16). At V=4.5 V and v=0.975 cm/s, although no phase boundary between the two liquids in the microchannel was observed, the relevant Raman intensity images indicated the inhomogeneous nature of the solution, and distribution of C7H16 to the FC-72 phase along with solution flow was observed.