Effect of slot aspect ratio on droplet formation from silicon straight-through microchannels

J Colloid Interface Sci. 2004 Nov 1;279(1):277-80. doi: 10.1016/j.jcis.2004.06.028.

Abstract

We recently proposed a novel technique for preparing monodisperse emulsions using an array of microfabricated through-holes with an oblong section; we called this array a straight-through microchannel (MC). This paper reports how the slot aspect ratio of the straight-through MC affects droplet formation characteristics. Straight-through MCs with different slot aspect ratios and equivalent diameters of about 20 microm were used. Experimental observation showed that slot aspect ratios exceeding a threshold of approximately 3 were needed to successfully prepare monodisperse emulsions with coefficients of variation below 2%.