Effect of electrode geometry on droplet velocity in open EWOD based device for digital microfluidics applications

Electro wetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) is an emerging method for handling droplet motion by applying an electric field to an array of electrodes. The dependence of droplet velocities on different electrode configuration in open EWOD system has been investigated in this work. In this paper, open configured EWOD devices with different geometries of electrodes, polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as a base layer are designed and fabricated. The electrowetting force is computed by analytical methods as well as by numerical methods and its effect on droplet velocity is studied in detail. The velocity of the droplet is measured by using open image processing tool.     

Acoustically driven planar microfluidics

Surface acoustic waves are used to actuate and process smallest possible amounts of fluids on the planar surface of a piezoelectric chip. Chemical modification of the chip surface is employed to create virtual wells and tubes to confine the liquids. Lithographically modulated wetting properties of the surface define a fluidic network, in analogy to the wiring of an electronic circuit. Acoustic radiation pressure exerted by the surface wave leads to internal streaming in the fluid and eventually to an actuation of small droplets along predetermined trajectories.     

Multiphase flows in microfluidics

Various aspects of microfluidic flows with different immiscible constituents are addressed. The fundamental physical characteristics are proposed, as well as the flow regimes which are determined by the wetting and surface tension properties. These fundamental aspects are followed by engineering applications that emerge in microfluidics, namely the creation of microbubbles or drops. Further applications are also discussed, such as the transfer of heat in bubbly flows, or the transport of colloids and emulsions. To cite this article: C.N. Baroud, H. Willaime, C. R. Physique 5 (2004).     

Discrete Boltzmann equation for microfluidics

We propose a discrete Boltzmann model for microfluidics based on the Boltzmann equation with external forces using a single relaxation time collision model. Considering the electrostatic interactions in microfluidics systems, we introduce an equilibrium distribution function that differs from the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution by an exponential factor to represent the action of an external force field. A statistical mechanical approach is applied to derive the equivalent external acceleration force exerting on the lattice particles based on a mean-field approximation, resulting from the electro-static potential energy and intermolecular potential energy between fluid-fluid and fluid-substrate interactions.     

Inertial microfluidics with multi-particle collision dynamics

Using the method of multi-particle collision dynamics (MPCD), we investigate inertial focussing in microfluidic channels that gives rise to the Segré-Silberberg effect. At intermediate Reynolds numbers, we model the motion of a spherical colloid in a circular microchannel under pressure-driven flow. We determine the radial distribution function and show how its width and the location of its maximum are strongly influenced by the colloid size and the Reynolds number of the Poiseuille flow. We demonstrate that MPCD is well suited for calculating mean values for the lift force acting on the colloid in the cross-sectional plane and for its mean axial velocity. We introduce a Langevin equation for the cross-sectional motion whose steady state is the Boltzmann distribution that contains the integrated lift force as potential energy. It perfectly coincides with the simulated radial distribution function.     

Preparation of nanoparticles by continuous-flow microfluidics

We review a variety of micro- and nanoparticle formulations produced with microfluidic methods. A diverse variety of approaches to generate microscale and nanoscale particles has been reported. Here we emphasize the use of microfluidics, specifically microfluidic systems that operate in a continuous flow mode, thereby allowing continuous generation of desired particle formulations. The generation of semiconductor quantum dots, metal colloids, emulsions, and liposomes is considered. To emphasize the potential benefits of the continuous-flow microfluidic methodology for nanoparticle generation, preliminary data on the size distribution of liposomes formed using the microfluidic approach is compared to the traditional bulk alcohol injection method.     

Electrokinetic ‘ratchet’ pumps for microfluidics

The symmetry argument underlying ‘ratchet’ schemes for the motion of molecular motors and for selective transport of particles is shown to yield new means for the pumping of liquids. A practical realization consists in using surfaces bearing polar periodic arrays of electrodes addressed by an ac voltage difference. The resulting surface-induced pumping remains efficient under miniaturization and may find application in microfluidics. Received: 19 October 2001 / Accepted: 14 January 2002 / Published online: 22 April 2002     

Hot droplet stability

Properties of heated droplets are studied on an example of the thermal explosion of noble gas atomic clusters, simulated by employing the classical molecular dynamics. Sharp change in the droplet stability at temperatures corresponding to the respective critical isentrope is shown on the basis of the analysis of the largest fragment size.     

Current-voltage characteristic of electrospray processes in microfluidics

We use a glass-based microfluidic device to study the electric current behavior of an electrospray process in the presence of a coflowing liquid. The current shows strong voltage dependence and weak flow rate dependence, in stark contrast to classical electrospray. By considering that the current is dominated by convection near the apex of the conical meniscus and driven by tangential electric stresses, we quantitatively capture the voltage and flow rate dependence of the current. Our results elucidate the influence of external field strength and open the way to achieve robust electric control of the current and of the drop size in microfluidics.     

"Bottleneck effect" in two-dimensional microfluidics

An anomalously long transient is needed to achieve a steady pressurization of a fluid when forced to flow through micronarrowed channels under constant mechanical driving. This phenomenon, known as the "bottleneck effect" is here revisited from a different perspective, by using confined displacements of interfacial fluids. Compared to standard microfluidics, such effect admits in this case a neat quantitative characterization, which reveals intrinsic material characteristics of flowing monolayers and permits to envisage strategies for their controlled micromanipulation.     

Optofluidic droplet router

This contribution presents an optofluidic droplet router which is able to route and steer microdroplets using optically induced forces created solely by the bulk photovoltaic effect on a nonlinear substrate. The combination of microfluidic tools with the properties of a photorefractive crystal allows for the generation of dielectrophoretic forces that can be either repulsive, leading to virtual barriers, or attractive, creating virtual rails. The sign of these forces is solely determined by the electrical properties of the liquid medium under investigation. Moreover, the induced structures on the bottom of the microfluidic channel are optically reconfigurable, so that the same device can easily be adopted for different purposes. Appropriate droplet‐generating devices are fabricated by UV illumination of SU‐8 and polydimethylsiloxane replica molding of the master structures. The bottom of the channels is formed by an iron‐doped lithium niobate crystal, whose internal electric fields are induced by structured illumination patterns and exert dielectrophoretic forces on droplets in the microfluidic section.

     

微流控制备单分散微米级SiO2微球

采用软模板法制备出了聚二甲基硅氧烷微流控装置。利用该装置讨论了正硅酸乙酯和氨水的用量分别对反应体系凝胶化时间的影响,确定了制备SiO2微球的优化反应体系,即二甲基乙酰胺、正硅酸乙酯和氨水的体积比为8∶4∶1,实验所需的反应温度为60 ℃。实验发现:在微流体通道中,分散相的流速越大,粒径越大;连续相流速越大,粒径越小。因此,通过控制微流控装置中分散相和连续相的流速制备了粒径40~220 m的单分散SiO2微球,并对其形貌进行表征。光学显微镜和粒径分析均表明所制备的SiO2微球球形度高,单分散性好。     

Experimental studies on droplet characteristics in a microfluidic flow focusing droplet generator: effect of continuous phase on droplet encapsulation

The European Physical Journal E - Interaction of cytoskeletal filaments, motor proteins, and crosslinking proteins drives important cellular processes such as cell division and cell movement....     

Hydrodynamics of droplet coalescence

We study droplet coalescence in a molecular system with a variable viscosity and a colloid-polymer mixture with an ultralow surface tension. When either the viscosity is large or the surface tension is small enough, we observe that the opening of the liquid bridge initially proceeds at a constant speed set by the capillary velocity. In the first system we show that inertial effects become dominant at a Reynolds number of about 1.5+/- 0.5 and the neck then grows as the square root of time. In the second system we show that decreasing the surface tension by a factor of 10(5) opens the way to a more complete understanding of the hydrodynamics involved.     

微流控光学器件与系统的研究进展

微流控技术作为微全分析系统的关键与核心,一直是MEMS领域中的一个研究重点。随着微流控技术水平的不断提高以及与其它学科的不断渗透与融合,近年来已经涌现出一批令人注目的研究热点,其中微流控光学器件就是其典型代表。微流控技术与光学器件的融合,为传统光学器件的微型化、阵列化、低成本化以及高精度控制提供了可能。叙述了一些基于微流控技术的可变焦光透镜、显示器件、光开关、以及可调光纤光栅等新型光学器件的近期研究成果和应用背景。