Open AccessSplitting a droplet with oil encapsulation using surface acoustic wave excited by electric signal with low power
Author(s) -
An-Liang Zhang,
Yan Zha,
Xingting Fu
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
aip advances
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.421
H-Index - 58
ISSN - 2158-3226
DOI - 10.1063/1.4816464
Subject(s) - piezoelectricity , microfluidics , transducer , materials science , breakup , acoustic streaming , electric field , interdigital transducer , cavitation , surface acoustic wave , acoustic wave , oil droplet , optoelectronics , acoustics , ultrasonic sensor , nanotechnology , composite material , chemistry , emulsion , mechanics , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
A new method for splitting a droplet with oil encapsulation is presented. An interdigital transducer and a reflector are fabricated on a 128° yx-LiNbO3 piezoelectric substrate using microelectric technology. An electric signal with the power of 12.3 dBm is applied to the interdigital transducer to generate surface acoustic wave, which is radiated into a droplet with oil encapsulation, leading to surface acoustic wave streaming force. When the electric signal is suddenly moved off, the breakup of the droplet occurs due to inertial force. Color dye solution droplets encapsulated by oil droplets are demonstrated. The effects of electric power, the volume ratio of color dye solution to oil, and the volume of mother droplet on the breakup of droplets are studied. As applications, the presented method is successfully applied to mixture operation and color development reaction of two droplets. The method provides a new sample preparation technique, which is helpful for microfluidic biochemical analysis in a piezoelectric microfluidic system