Issue 24, 2020

Trapping and control of bubbles in various microfluidic applications

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.

Graphical abstract: Trapping and control of bubbles in various microfluidic applications

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
08 Sep 2020
Accepted
12 Nov 2020
First published
13 Nov 2020

Lab Chip, 2020,20, 4512-4527

Trapping and control of bubbles in various microfluidic applications

Y. Gao, M. Wu, Y. Lin and J. Xu, Lab Chip, 2020, 20, 4512 DOI: 10.1039/D0LC00906G

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