Trapping and control of bubbles in various microfluidic applications
Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
12-21-2020
Abstract
As a simple, clean and effective tool, micro bubbles have enabled advances in various lab on a chip (LOC) applications recently. In bubble-based microfluidic applications, techniques for capturing and controlling the bubbles play an important role. Here we review active and passive techniques for bubble trapping and control in microfluidic applications. The active techniques are categorized based on various types of external forces from optical, electric, acoustic, mechanical and thermal fields. The passive approaches depend on surface tension, focusing on optimization of microgeometry and modification of surface properties. We discuss control techniques of size, location and stability of microbubbles and show how these bubbles are employed in various applications. To finalize, by highlighting the advantages of these approaches along with the current challenges, we discuss the future prospects of bubble trapping and control in microfluidic applications.
Publication Title, e.g., Journal
Lab on a Chip
Volume
20
Issue
24
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Gao, Yuan, Mengren Wu, Yang Lin, and Jie Xu. "Trapping and control of bubbles in various microfluidic applications." Lab on a Chip 20, 24 (2020): 4512-4527. doi: 10.1039/d0lc00906g.