Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 20, 2026

Author Spotlight: High-Throughput Screening to Obtain Crystal Hits for Protein Crystallography
Published on: March 10, 2023
High-Throughput Acoustofluidic Self-Assembly of Colloidal Crystals
Meghana Akella1, Jaime J Juárez1
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, 2529 Union Drive, Ames, Iowa 50011, United States.
This study presents a novel acoustofluidic method for the continuous, high-throughput assembly of two-dimensional (2D) colloidal crystals. This technique offers a scalable and efficient alternative to traditional methods for creating ordered colloidal structures.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Fluid Dynamics
Background:
- Colloidal crystals are vital in energy-harvesting applications, acting as waveguides and filters.
- Existing assembly methods (electric, magnetic) face limitations in size, yield, and throughput.
- There is a need for scalable, high-throughput methods for colloidal crystal assembly.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate a continuous, high-throughput method for assembling 2D colloidal crystals using acoustofluidics.
- To investigate the tunability of crystal microstructure via fluid flow rate and applied voltage.
- To showcase the immobilization and extraction of assembled crystals as polymer-particle fibers.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of an acoustofluidic flow cell using off-the-shelf components.
- Utilizing acoustic fields and controlled fluid flow for crystal assembly.
- Employing particle tracking and microparticle image velocimetry for analysis.
- Immobilization of crystals using UV-curable resin.
Main Results:
- Continuous, high-throughput assembly of highly ordered 2D colloidal crystals achieved in under a minute.
- Throughput yield of several hundred particles per minute demonstrated.
- Experimental state diagram established for tuning crystal microstructure.
- Successful extraction of ordered polymer-particle fibers from assembled crystals.
Conclusions:
- Acoustofluidics provides a powerful, scalable platform for continuous colloidal crystal assembly.
- The developed method overcomes limitations of traditional assembly techniques.
- Acoustic fields can be used to assemble ordered structures within bulk materials.
Related Concept Videos
06:19High-Throughput Screening to Obtain Crystal Hits for Protein Crystallography
07:16Assembly and Operation of an Acoustofluidic Device for Enhanced Delivery of Molecular Compounds to Cells
Colloids
06:18High-Throughput Protein Crystallization via Microdialysis
08:54Synthesis and Exfoliation of Discotic Zirconium Phosphates to Obtain Colloidal Liquid Crystals
11:13Creating Sub-50 Nm Nanofluidic Junctions in PDMS Microfluidic Chip via Self-Assembly Process of Colloidal Particles

