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Updated: Dec 13, 2025

Glass-Based Devices to Generate Drops and Emulsions

Glass-Based Devices to Generate Drops and Emulsions

Published on: April 5, 2022

Step emulsification in microfluidic droplet generation: mechanisms and structures.

Zhi Shi¹, Xiaochen Lai, Chengtao Sun

¹State Key Laboratory of Precision Measuring Technology and Instruments, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China. dchli@tju.edu.cn.

Chemical Communications (Cambridge, England)

|August 4, 2020

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Step emulsification in microfluidics enables high-throughput, uniform droplet generation for materials and biomedical applications. This review covers mechanisms, structures, and future directions for droplet-based systems.

Area of Science:

Microfluidics
Materials Science
Biomedical Engineering

Background:

Droplet-based microfluidics are crucial for material synthesis and biomedical measurements.
Step emulsification integrates homogeneity and high throughput in monodisperse droplet formation.

Purpose of the Study:

To review mechanisms and structures of step emulsification.
To discuss advancements in droplet formation and applications.

Main Methods:

Analysis of microchannel geometry effects on droplet size and detachment.
Introduction of interfacial tension-driven and buoyancy-driven (centrifugal) step emulsification.

Main Results:

Detailed description of droplet formation regimes.

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Last Updated: Dec 13, 2025

Glass-Based Devices to Generate Drops and Emulsions

Glass-Based Devices to Generate Drops and Emulsions

Published on: April 5, 2022

Fabricating High-viscosity Droplets using Microfluidic Capillary Device with Phase-inversion Co-flow Structure

Fabricating High-viscosity Droplets using Microfluidic Capillary Device with Phase-inversion Co-flow Structure

Published on: April 17, 2018

Double Emulsion Generation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane PDMS Co-axial Flow Focus Device

Double Emulsion Generation Using a Polydimethylsiloxane PDMS Co-axial Flow Focus Device

Published on: December 25, 2015

Overview of improved structures for enhanced droplet homogeneity and throughput.

Conclusions:

Step emulsification offers significant advantages in droplet generation.
Future development lies in mechanisms, fabrication, and diverse applications.