title: Electro-coalescence of digitally controlled droplets.
abstract: In this paper we describe a universal mechanism for merging multiple aqueous microdroplets within a flowing stream consisting of an oil carrier phase. Our approach involves the use of both a pillar array acting as a passive merging element, as well as built-in electrodes acting as an active merging element. The pillar array enables slowing down and trapping of the droplets via the drainage of the oil phase. This brings adjacent droplets into close proximity. At this point, an electric field applied to the electrodes breaks up the thin oil film surrounding the droplets resulting in merging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, and Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Imperial College London, Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Xize
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Niu
authors.forename: Fabrice
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gielen
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: deMello
authors.forename: Joshua B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Edel
mesh_terms: D002138:Calibration; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D046210:Microfluidic Analytical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009821:Oils / Q000737:chemistry*; D014867:Water / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D009821:Oils; D014867:Water