Abstract

The Self-Assembly Process of Molecules and Droplets in Microchannels

Shengyang Tao, Dean and Professor, School of Chemistry, Dalian University of Technology

The continuous fluid in microchannels exhibits a uniform flow field and rapid mass and heat transfer, so microfluidic technology has become an important method for preparing nano- and micro-scale materials with uniform distribution. We have realized the self-assembly process of molecules and droplets using different types of microfluidic chips and microreactors. We can not only assemble different molecules into micro- and nanomaterials with specific optical functions, but also assemble droplets of different sizes into multiple emulsions with complex structures. We have also used CFD and micro-PIV technologies to simulate, analyze, and measure the flow field in microchannels, thereby elucidating the mechanism of the assembly process from a hydrodynamic perspective, which provides a reference for developing new methods of substance assembly in microfluids.