Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 7, 2025

Microfluidic Model to Mimic Initial Event of Neovascularization
Published on: April 10, 2021
Three-Dimensional Open Water Microchannel Transpiration Mimetics
Zhaolong Wang1, Yingying Li1, Shuai Gong2
1College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, P. R. China.
Abstract:
The key problem that hinders the water transportation performance and application of microchannels is the annoying gaslock. Realizing liquid transport without the gaslock requires a specially designed pump and a channel system, as well as the reduction of gas concentration in liquids. In nature, to eat viscous nectar with high efficiency, hummingbirds use their open geometric tongue for nectar-sucking. Inspired by hummingbirds' tongue, we report a bionic open microchannel that discharges unwanted gas inside the microchannel from the opening without influencing its fluidic performance. The opening can also be used for extrusion of oil droplets in microchannels, indicating great potential applications in oil-water separation and chemical slow release, especially for bubble discharge in microchannels. Most significantly, a mimicked "leaf" with our bionic open microchannnels exhibits marvelous "transpiration" performance when irradiated by a laser. Our work provides a new strategy for the fabrication of open microchannels and sheds light on potential applications of multiphase phenomena in microchannels including oil-water separation, phase change heat and mass transfer, solar vapor generation, and precisely controllable drug delivery.
Related Concept Videos
Regulation of Transpiration by Stomata
Xylem and Transpiration-driven Transport of Resources
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Regulation of Water Output
Capillarity in Fluid
Surface tension is crucial to capillarity. It results from cohesive forces between liquid molecules at the liquid-air boundary, forming a skin that resists external forces. When the capillary tube...

