Microfluidic chip monitors gases using integrated, motionless pumps

The integrated design achieves accurate micro gas chromatography and can help reduce the cost of monitoring chemical synthesis, natural gas pipelines or at-home air quality.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A new microscale gas chromatography system integrates all fluidic components into a single chip for the first time. The design leverages three Knudsen pumps that move gas molecules using heat differentials to eliminate the need for valves, according to the University of Michigan Engineering study published in Nature Microsystems & Nanoengineering. The monolithic gas sampling and analysis system, or monoGSA system for short, could offer reliable, low-cost monitoring for industrial chemical or pharmaceutical synthesis, natural gas pipelines, or even at-home air quality.

Why it matters

Miniaturizing gas chromatography technology can bring gas analysis from the laboratory to the source, offering reliable, low-cost monitoring for industrial processes, natural gas pipelines, or at-home air quality. The integrated, monolithic design of the monoGSA system improves reliability and reduces cost compared to traditional micro gas chromatography systems that use separate pumps and valves.

The details

The 15-by-15 millimeter squared chip is made of a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform sandwiched between two layers of fused silica. Metal traces placed on top act as Joule heaters to create a hot side, while the thick silicon base creates a heat sink to maintain a cool side. Ultra-narrow channels, just 1.2 microns wide, create Knudsen pumps that move gas molecules from the cold side to the hot side without any moving parts. The monoGSA system leverages three Knudsen pumps to selectively direct gas flow during the sampling, preconcentration, and separation phases.

  • The monoGSA system was developed and tested at the University of Michigan.
  • The research was published in the journal Nature Microsystems & Nanoengineering in February 2026.

The players

Yogesh Gianchandani

A professor of electrical and computer engineering and mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan and co-corresponding author of the study.

Yutao Qin

An associate research scientist of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Michigan and co-corresponding author of the study.

University of Michigan

The institution where the monoGSA system was developed and tested.

Nature Microsystems & Nanoengineering

The journal that published the study on the monoGSA system.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It might sound like we just squeezed everything onto one chip, but there is much more to it than that. We had to redesign how the pumps work and overhaul our manufacturing process to manage complex thermal isolation challenges. We essentially turned the problem on its head to achieve this level of integration.”

— Yogesh Gianchandani, Professor of electrical and computer engineering and mechanical engineering (University of Michigan)

“In channels this narrow, gas molecules have an increased chance of hitting the sidewalls instead of bumping into each other and creating random motion. As a result, thermal transpiration takes over, driving the molecules from the cold to the hot side.”

— Yutao Qin, Associate research scientist of electrical and computer engineering (University of Michigan)

What’s next

The research team is seeking partners to bring the monoGSA system technology to market, with plans to move the device out of the lab and into industrial and consumer applications for pollution or indoor air quality monitoring.

The takeaway

The integrated, monolithic design of the monoGSA system represents a significant advancement in micro gas chromatography technology, offering reliable, low-cost gas monitoring capabilities that could be deployed in a wide range of industrial, environmental, and consumer applications.