Wetting-induced interfacial instability: A mechanism for droplet emission at air-liquid interfaces.

ABSTRACT: High-throughput production of monodisperse microdroplets has revolutionized many fields, typically relying on shear-induced emulsification in intricate microfluidic channels to induce the Rayleigh-Plateau instability. This mechanism exhibits low robustness due to its high dependence on the physical properties and flow conditions of fluids. Here, we report a robust emulsification mechanism-wetting-induced interfacial instability-for droplet emission. We find that, when pendant microdroplets in the air contact with an immiscible wetting bulk phase, it triggers interfacial instability in the hanging droplets and then their rapid breakup into the bulk phase. This simplifies the monodisperse microdroplet production using a nozzle positioned above an air-liquid interface, requiring no complex mi

SUBMITTER: Su YY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11922046 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature