Generation of droplet group based on an external electromagnetic valve in a microfluidic chip

doi:10.1088/1674-1056/ade063

中国物理B ›› 2025, Vol. 34 ›› Issue (12): 124702-124702.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/ade063

Generation of droplet group based on an external electromagnetic valve in a microfluidic chip

Dong Wang(王东), Xiaonan Li(李啸楠), Jiayi Zhou(周佳怡), Liyu Liu(刘雳宇)^†, and Guo Chen(陈果)‡

Chongqing Key Laboratory of Interface Physics in Energy Conversion, School of Physics and Center of Quantum Materials and Devices, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China

收稿日期:2025-02-21 修回日期:2025-05-22 接受日期:2025-06-04 发布日期:2025-12-09
通讯作者: Liyu Liu, Guo Chen E-mail:lyliu@cqu.edu.cn;wezer@cqu.edu.cn
基金资助:
Project supported by the Chongqing Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (Grant No. CX2023079), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China (Grant Nos. 2023CDJXY-049 and 2024CDJXY-022), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. T2350007 and 127404).

Generation of droplet group based on an external electromagnetic valve in a microfluidic chip

Dong Wang(王东), Xiaonan Li(李啸楠), Jiayi Zhou(周佳怡), Liyu Liu(刘雳宇)^†, and Guo Chen(陈果)‡

Chongqing Key Laboratory of Interface Physics in Energy Conversion, School of Physics and Center of Quantum Materials and Devices, Chongqing University, Chongqing 401331, China

Received:2025-02-21 Revised:2025-05-22 Accepted:2025-06-04 Published:2025-12-09
Contact: Liyu Liu, Guo Chen E-mail:lyliu@cqu.edu.cn;wezer@cqu.edu.cn
Supported by:
Project supported by the Chongqing Human Resources and Social Security Bureau (Grant No. CX2023079), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, China (Grant Nos. 2023CDJXY-049 and 2024CDJXY-022), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. T2350007 and 127404).

摘要/Abstract

摘要： Previous studies on droplet generation in microfluidics mainly focus on the monodisperse droplet, but limited attention has paid to the generation of droplet groups composed of multiple droplets with different volumes or components. In this study, a programmable electromagnetic valve is externally connected with the microfluidic chip featuring a conventional flow-focused structure. Different from the previous situation where only one droplet is generated by a single actuation of the electromagnetic valve, by precisely controlling the opening and closing of the valve, the continuous phase fluid exhibits periodic flow in the channel, and we realized the generation of a droplet group by a single actuation of the valve, and the number and volume of the droplets in each group can be regulated. Specifically, the number of large droplets in a droplet group is mainly determined by the opening time of the electromagnetic valve and the two-phase flow rate, and the number of small droplets is dominated by the valve closing time. The volume of individual droplets in a droplet group is largely dependent on the flow rate of the continuous phase. Our study extends the understanding of microfluidic droplet formation. It provides a feasible method for the efficient preparation of polydisperse droplets, which is important for microfluidic chip-based droplet control and has potential applications in industries related to microfluidic droplets.

关键词: droplet group, electromagnetic valve, valve switching ratio, microfluidic chip

Abstract: Previous studies on droplet generation in microfluidics mainly focus on the monodisperse droplet, but limited attention has paid to the generation of droplet groups composed of multiple droplets with different volumes or components. In this study, a programmable electromagnetic valve is externally connected with the microfluidic chip featuring a conventional flow-focused structure. Different from the previous situation where only one droplet is generated by a single actuation of the electromagnetic valve, by precisely controlling the opening and closing of the valve, the continuous phase fluid exhibits periodic flow in the channel, and we realized the generation of a droplet group by a single actuation of the valve, and the number and volume of the droplets in each group can be regulated. Specifically, the number of large droplets in a droplet group is mainly determined by the opening time of the electromagnetic valve and the two-phase flow rate, and the number of small droplets is dominated by the valve closing time. The volume of individual droplets in a droplet group is largely dependent on the flow rate of the continuous phase. Our study extends the understanding of microfluidic droplet formation. It provides a feasible method for the efficient preparation of polydisperse droplets, which is important for microfluidic chip-based droplet control and has potential applications in industries related to microfluidic droplets.

Key words: droplet group, electromagnetic valve, valve switching ratio, microfluidic chip

中图分类号: (Drop and bubble formation)

47.55.db

47.61.-k (Micro- and nano- scale flow phenomena) 47.55.Ca (Gas/liquid flows) 47.55.D- (Drops and bubbles)

Dong Wang(王东), Xiaonan Li(李啸楠), Jiayi Zhou(周佳怡), Liyu Liu(刘雳宇), and Guo Chen(陈果). Generation of droplet group based on an external electromagnetic valve in a microfluidic chip[J]. 中国物理B, 2025, 34(12): 124702-124702.

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Generation of droplet group based on an external electromagnetic valve in a microfluidic chip

Generation of droplet group based on an external electromagnetic valve in a microfluidic chip

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