Premium
On‐Site Formation of Emulsions by Controlled Air Plugs
Author(s) -
Huang Xiaowen,
Hui Wenli,
Hao Chonglei,
Yue Wanqing,
Yang Mengsu,
Cui Yali,
Wang Zuankai
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201202659
Subject(s) - microfluidics , wetting , nanotechnology , materials science , microchannel , digital microfluidics , capillary action , electrowetting , optoelectronics , composite material , dielectric
Air plugs are usually undesirable in microfluidic systems because of their detrimental effect on the system's stability and integrity. By controlling the wetting properties as well as the topographical geometry of the microchannel, it is reported herein that air plugs can be generated in pre‐defined locations to function as a unique valve, allowing for the on‐site formation of various emulsions including single‐component droplets, composite droplets with droplet‐to‐droplet concentration gradient, blood droplets, paired droplets, as well as bubble arrays without the need for precious flow control, a difficult task with conventional droplet microfluidics. Moreover, the self‐generated air valve can be readily deactivated (turned off) by the introduction of an oil phase, allowing for the on‐demand release of as‐formed droplets for downstream applications. It is proposed that the simple, yet versatile nature of this technique can act as an important method for droplet microfluidics and, in particular, is ideal for the development of affordable lab‐on‐a‐chip systems without suffering from scalability and manufacturing challenges that typically confound the conventional droplet microfluidics.