Contents I. Introduction
During the last two decades, the use of micropumps has reached many domains of science and technology. A huge diversity of designs, materials, and operating and actuation principles can be found in industry and the scientific literature. In spite of this significant variety, micropumps can always be identified as mechanical or nonmechanical devices [1]. Within the mechanical family, which is composed of devices requiring moving parts to function, actuation principles such as electrostatic [2], piezoelectric [3], electromagnetic [4], thermo-pneumatic [5], and pneumatic [6] are the most common. Here, many designs and architectures are possible but in general, two principal types stand out. These are reciprocating or piston-like geometries and peristaltic ones [7]. Within the nonmechanical category—devices without moving parts—electro-osmotic [8], magneto-hydrodynamic [9], and electro-hydrodynamic [10] drivers are often employed. The geometries related to nonmechanical pumps are quite simple and similar to each other. Normally, they simply consist of a linear channel connecting two reservoirs.
