Yong Ren

By Yong Ren, Kai Seng Koh and Yaping Zhang

With increasing level of polymer solution involvement in multiphase microdevice for formation of emulsion and fabrication of functional materials, it is of paramount importance to systematically understand the relevant physics of droplet formation in non-Newtonian fluids and how the material formation process may be affected due to the complex rheological effect. The chapter aims to review and discuss the recent advances in technologies that enable fabrication and application of functional materials formed from non-Newtonian microfluidic multiphase system. Rheological behavior of polymer solutions and the mathematical models are reviewed. The influence of microstructure on rheological behavior of polymer solutions and the fundamental physical phenomena driving non-Newtonian microfluidic multiphase system are discussed. Shear thinning and viscoelastic effect on breakup dynamics and droplet formation are presented. The microfabrication process of the device and synthesis of emulsion-templated materials with potential industrial and biochemical applications are elucidated.

Part of the book: Advances in Microfluidics

By Kai Seng Koh, Voon Loong Wong and Yong Ren

With recent advancement in droplet microfluidics for both microdroplet encapsulation and fission, it is of paramount importance to understand the flow physics for both Newtonian and non-Newtonian fluids in microdroplet encapsulation and fission as the development of the field is approaching to its maturity. The chapter aims to review and discuss the fluid flow behavior of the multiphase system, mathematical models as well as the fundamental phenomena driving force of microdroplet encapsulation and fission multiphase system. Together, the recent advances in technologies that enable fabrication and application of droplets encapsulation and fission from both Newtonian and non-Newtonian microfluidic multiphase system will be reviewed as well.

Part of the book: Microfluidics and Nanofluidics

By Maxine Yew, Kaiseng Koh and Yong Ren

For the past three decades since the dawn of the concept of scaling down fluidic processes and systems, various microfabrication techniques have been significantly explored and developed. Glass and elastomers, as first-generation microfluidic device materials, are still widely used, while other alternatives have emerged. We have seen a rise in novel and innovative device designs and fabrication in droplet microfluidics which enable easier and more cost-effective approach of generating droplets, such as the use of commercially available “off-the-shelf” components, plug-and-play modular devices, and 3D-printed droplet generators. This chapter aims to review some of these facile approaches for droplet generation and discuss the versatility and functionability of these designs for possible commercial formulations. Discussions of rationales for and challenges of the development of these conceptual devices are included.

Part of the book: Advances in Microfluidic Technologies for Energy and Environmental Applications

By Jing Wang, Yong Ren and Bei Zhang

This chapter reviews the up-to-date researches in the field of biosensors integrated with microfluidic techniques, most of which are publications within the last 5 years. The features of these biosensors, their applications, challenges, and possible future research interests in this field are also reviewed.

Part of the book: Advances in Microfluidic Technologies for Energy and Environmental Applications