Chemically induced coalescence in droplet-based microfluidics

Lab Chip. 2015 Feb 21;15(4):1140-4. doi: 10.1039/c4lc01285b.

Abstract

We present a new microfluidic method to coalesce pairs of surfactant-stabilized water-in-fluorocarbon oil droplets. We achieve this through the local addition of a poor solvent for the surfactant, perfluorobutanol, which induces cohesion between droplet interfaces causing them to merge. The efficiency of this technique is comparable to existing techniques providing an alternative method to coalesce pairs of droplets.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Fluorocarbons / chemistry*
  • Microfluidics / methods*
  • Oils / chemistry*
  • Particle Size
  • Surface Properties
  • Surface-Active Agents / chemistry*
  • Water / chemistry

Substances

  • Fluorocarbons
  • Oils
  • Surface-Active Agents
  • Water