Microfluidic plate stack

The microchannel or microfluidic devices are used for flow switching in GC, consisting of laser cut metal sheets (shims) with thicknesses from 20 to 500 pm. The resulting channel dimensions are similar to the conventional fused silica capillary columns. Shim stacks are bonded together with top and bottom plates for column connections, having low thermal mass for fast GC oven ramp rates. 

Development of small fuel cells for portable power applications has resulted in a myriad of stack configurations. Some stacks are miniaturized replicas of the larger automotive or stationary power fuel cells with the same components, MEAs, gas diffusion layers, bipolar plates, and end plates. Some use planar configuration where the cells are connected with conductive strips. Recently, microfluidic cells manufactured on silicon-based chips are emerging [37,38]. 

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