Next Article in Journal
Correction: Wang et al. Temperature Effects in Packaged RF MEMS Switches with Optimized Gold Electroplating Process. Micromachines 2024, 15, 1085
Previous Article in Journal
Integration of Point-of-Care Technology in the Decoding Process of Single Nucleotide Polymorphism for Healthcare Application †
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Micromachines
Volume 16
Issue 10
10.3390/mi16101160
micromachines-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite question_answer Discuss in SciProfiles
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
Article

Optofluidic Lens Refractometer

by
Yifan Zhang
,
Qi Wang
,
Yuxiang Li
,
Junjie Liu
,
Ziyue Lin
,
Mingkai Fan
,
Yichi Zhang
and
Xiang Wu
*
The Key Laboratory of Micro and Nano Photonic Structures, Department of Optical Science and Engineering, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Micromachines 2025, 16(10), 1160; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16101160
Submission received: 12 September 2025 / Revised: 10 October 2025 / Accepted: 11 October 2025 / Published: 13 October 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Optofluidic Devices and Their Applications)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

In the face of increasingly severe global environmental challenges, the development of low-cost, high-precision, and easily integrable environmental monitoring sensors is of paramount importance. Existing optical refractive index sensors are often limited in application due to their complex structures and high costs, or their bulky size and difficulty in automation. This paper proposes a novel optical microfluidic refractometer, consisting solely of a laser source, an optical microfluidic lens, and a CCD detector. Through an innovative “simple structure + algorithm” design, the sensor achieves high-precision measurement while significantly reducing cost and size and enhancing robustness. With the aid of signal processing algorithms, the device currently enables the detection of refractive index gradients as low as 1.4 × 10−5 within a refractive index range of 1.33 to 1.48.
Keywords: microlens; optofluidic; refractometer; sensors; gradient boosting decision tree; image-based signal processing; beam transformation microlens; optofluidic; refractometer; sensors; gradient boosting decision tree; image-based signal processing; beam transformation

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Zhang, Y.; Wang, Q.; Li, Y.; Liu, J.; Lin, Z.; Fan, M.; Zhang, Y.; Wu, X. Optofluidic Lens Refractometer. Micromachines 2025, 16, 1160. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16101160

AMA Style

Zhang Y, Wang Q, Li Y, Liu J, Lin Z, Fan M, Zhang Y, Wu X. Optofluidic Lens Refractometer. Micromachines. 2025; 16(10):1160. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16101160

Chicago/Turabian Style

Zhang, Yifan, Qi Wang, Yuxiang Li, Junjie Liu, Ziyue Lin, Mingkai Fan, Yichi Zhang, and Xiang Wu. 2025. "Optofluidic Lens Refractometer" Micromachines 16, no. 10: 1160. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16101160

APA Style

Zhang, Y., Wang, Q., Li, Y., Liu, J., Lin, Z., Fan, M., Zhang, Y., & Wu, X. (2025). Optofluidic Lens Refractometer. Micromachines, 16(10), 1160. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi16101160

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Back to TopTop