Microfabricated devices for the storage and selective exposure of chemicals and devices

A microchip device comprising:

• a substrate;
• a plurality of reservoirs in the substrate;
• a reacting component immobilized in each of the reservoirs;
• at least one metal barrier layer covering each of the reservoirs to isolate the reacting component from an environmental component outside the reservoirs, wherein the barrier layer is impermeable to the environmental component;
• and
• control circuitry and power source for selectively disintegrating the barrier layer of each reservoir to expose the reacting component to said environmental component.

A device comprising:

• a substrate;
• an array of discrete reservoirs in the substrate;
• one or more reacting components immobilized in the reservoirs;
• discrete barrier layers covering the reservoirs to isolate the one or more reacting components from an environmental component outside the reservoirs, wherein the barrier layer is impermeable to the environmental component;
• and
• control circuitry and a power source for selectively disintegrating at least a portion of the barrier layers to expose the reacting component to said environmental component.