1. The benefits of microfluidics for chemistry

Lab-on-a-chip or microfluidic systems are compact, miniaturized, multi-functional devices measuring just a few square centimeters. They can combine mechanical, chemical, optical, electromagnetic, thermal and fluidic elements with electronics. They act as sensors for measuring physical parameters (pressure, acceleration, etc.) and/or as actuators (flow, separation, etc.). The volumes involved are of the order of microliters or less, and flow rates of the order of tens of microliters per minute or less.

However, this scale-related definition is insufficient, and microsystems can only be described in terms of their specific features and performance.

The immediate benefits of downscaling associated with fluid handling in microfluidic chips have been described in detail in articles