Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 23, 2026

Assembly and Characterization of an External Driver for the Generation of Sub-Kilohertz Oscillatory Flow in Microchannels
Published on: January 28, 2022
A new droplet breakup phenomenon in electrokinetic flow through a microchannel constriction
Xiang Ji1, Teng Zhou1, Yongbo Deng2
1Mechanical and Electrical Engineering College, Hainan University, Haikou, Hainan, P. R. China.
Abstract:
A completely new droplet breakup phenomenon is reported for droplets passing through a constriction in an electrokinetic flow. The breakup occurs during the droplet shape recovery process past the constriction throat by the interplay of the dielectrophoretic stress release and the interface energy for droplets with smaller permittivity than that of the ambient fluid. There are conditions for constriction ratios and droplet size that the droplet breakup occurs. The numerical predictions provided here require experimental verification, and then can give rise to a novel microfluidic device design with novel droplet manipulations.
Related Concept Videos
Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenon
Gene Flow
Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
Blood Flow
Couette Flow
Laminar Flow

