eprintid: 10198377
rev_number: 7
eprint_status: archive
userid: 699
dir: disk0/10/19/83/77
datestamp: 2024-10-11 14:34:18
lastmod: 2024-10-11 14:34:18
status_changed: 2024-10-11 14:34:18
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 699
creators_name: Chen, T
creators_name: Cui, L
creators_name: He, W
creators_name: Zhao, Z
creators_name: Liu, H
creators_name: Qian, L
creators_name: Yu, B
title: Fabrication of Conical Microstructure Array for Stable Droplet Generation Over Wide Flow Rate Range
ispublished: inpress
divisions: UCL
divisions: B04
divisions: F46
keywords: Microstructures; micro-droplets; flow shear stress; selective etching
note: This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
abstract: Droplet generators with the ability to resist flow fluctuations are of importance for microfluidic chip analysis systems. However, obtaining stably desired-size droplets is still a bugbear since even slight fluctuations can cause polydisperse droplets. In this study, a high-performance droplet generator is achieved with a functional conical array housed in the junction of the channels. The conical microstructures are fabricated through the selective etching of the scratched silicon nitride/silicon (Si3N4/Si) substrate in potassium hydroxide (KOH) etchant, where the combination of lateral and normal material removal contributes to the structure formation. It is found that the key role of the conical microstructures is to regulate the flow rate of the continuous phase, which allows droplet generation to turn to the necking phase and enables droplets to shed more easily. It is also noted that the droplet generator with such a conical array can produce monodisperse droplets in wide-range flow, providing new insights for high-quality device design.
date: 2024-09-27
date_type: published
publisher: WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
official_url: https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202404819
full_text_type: other
language: eng
verified: verified_manual
elements_id: 2323666
doi: 10.1002/smll.202404819
medium: Print-Electronic
lyricists_name: Liu, Huiyun
lyricists_id: HLIUX22
actors_name: Liu, Huiyun
actors_id: HLIUX22
actors_role: owner
funding_acknowledgements: [National Natural Science Foundation of China]; 52175549
full_text_status: restricted
publication: Small
article_number: 2404819
pages: 8
event_location: Germany
issn: 1613-6810
citation:        Chen, T;    Cui, L;    He, W;    Zhao, Z;    Liu, H;    Qian, L;    Yu, B;      (2024)    Fabrication of Conical Microstructure Array for Stable Droplet Generation Over Wide Flow Rate Range.                   Small      , Article 2404819.  10.1002/smll.202404819 <https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.202404819>.    (In press).   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10198377/1/Fabrication%20of%20Conical%20Microstructure%20Array%20for%20Stable%20Droplet%20Generation%20over%20Wide%20Flow%20Rate%20Range%281%29.pdf