Issue 1, 2016

Active droplet generation in microfluidics

Abstract

The reliable generation of micron-sized droplets is an important process for various applications in droplet-based microfluidics. The generated droplets work as a self-contained reaction platform in droplet-based lab-on-a-chip systems. With the maturity of this platform technology, sophisticated and delicate control of the droplet generation process is needed to address increasingly complex applications. This review presents the state of the art of active droplet generation concepts, which are categorized according to the nature of the induced energy. At the liquid/liquid interface, an energy imbalance leads to instability and droplet breakup.

Graphical abstract: Active droplet generation in microfluidics

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
24 Aug 2015
Accepted
23 Oct 2015
First published
27 Oct 2015

Lab Chip, 2016,16, 35-58

Author version available

Active droplet generation in microfluidics

Z. Z. Chong, S. H. Tan, A. M. Gañán-Calvo, S. B. Tor, N. H. Loh and N. Nguyen, Lab Chip, 2016, 16, 35 DOI: 10.1039/C5LC01012H

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