Droplet actuation in an electrified microfluidic network

    Authors

    J. D. Wehking;R. Kumar

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Lab Chip

    Keywords

    ELECTROHYDRODYNAMIC DEFORMATION; FIELDS; SHEAR; BURST; FLOW; Biochemical Research Methods; Chemistry, Multidisciplinary; Nanoscience; & Nanotechnology

    Abstract

    This work demonstrates that liquid droplet emulsions in a microchannel can be deformed, decelerated and/or pinned by applying a suitable electrical potential. By concentrating a potential gradient at the corners, we show that different droplets can be passively binned by size and on demand in a branched microfluidic device. The deformation, deceleration, squeezing and release of droplets in a three-dimensional numerical simulation are qualitatively verified by experiments in a PDMS microfluidic device. The forces required for pinning or binning a droplet provide a delicate balance between hydrodynamics and the electric field, and are obtained using appropriate non-dimensional parameters.

    Journal Title

    Lab on a Chip

    Volume

    15

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2015

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    793

    Last Page

    801

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000348379200025

    ISSN

    1473-0197

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