Graphical abstract template · Nanomaterial guides · Flow synthesis and electrospinning · Bottom-up
Microfluidic synthesis and electrospinning
Continuous processes in six panels: hydrodynamic flow focusing, a staggered herringbone mixer, glass-capillary 3D focusing and droplet microfluidics for nanoparticle synthesis, then the electrospinning set-up and its four steps from Taylor cone to fibre mat. Each caption quotes the cited papers.
Updated 3 cited papers45 editable layers
At a glance
- Category
- Nanomaterial guides
- Method
- Flow synthesis and electrospinning
- Approach
- Bottom-up
- Starting materials
- An organic phase and an aqueous phase in microchannels; a polymer solution in a syringe
- Product
- Nanoparticles formed downstream of the mixer or inside droplets; a nonwoven fibre mat
- Key result
- Chips and set-ups drawn by LabCanvas in 3D from the cited reviews; channel sizes and flow rates are settings, not to scale
- Figure
- 1920 × 1080 px (16:9), 45 editable layers, 6 generated objects
Step by step
- Laminar microchannelsChannels tens to hundreds of µm across keep the flow laminar; mixing in milliseconds separates nucleation, growth and aggregation better than batch methods (Shen 2024)
- Hydrodynamic flow focusingIn a three-inlet device the slower central organic stream is sheathed into a thin sheet by faster aqueous side streams; focusing in 3D keeps it off the walls, reducing attachment and clogging (Shen 2024)
- Staggered herringbone mixerAsymmetric protrusions stir the two fluids chaotically, mixing them within 10 or 15 cycles of the pattern (Shen 2024)
- Glass capillaries and dropletsTapered round capillaries inserted into a square capillary carry the organic solvent as the inner phase and the aqueous solution as the outer phase, focused in 3D; droplet generators confine reactions to picolitre water-in-oil droplets, commonly used for inorganic nanoparticles (Shen 2024)
- Electrospinning set-upA high-voltage power supply (DC or AC), a syringe pump, a spinneret (usually a blunt-tipped hypodermic needle) and a conductive collector (Xue 2019)
- Cone, jet, whipping, fibresElectrostatic repulsion among like surface charges deforms the pendant droplet into a Taylor cone, from which a charged jet is ejected; the jet extends in a straight line, then whips through bending instabilities, thins, solidifies and deposits as fibres on the grounded collector (Xue 2019)
Strengths
- Mixing in milliseconds separates nucleation, growth and aggregation better than batch methods (Shen 2024)
- Focusing in 3D keeps the stream off the walls, reducing attachment and clogging (Shen 2024)
Papers this template follows
- Shen, Gwak & Han, “Advanced manufacturing of nanoparticle formulations of drugs and biologics using microfluidics”, Analyst 2024. doi:10.1039/d3an01739gprimary
- Xue et al., “Electrospinning and electrospun nanofibers: methods, materials, and applications”, Chem. Rev. 2019. doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00593primary
- Reneker & Chun, “Nanometre diameter fibres of polymer, produced by electrospinning”, Nanotechnology 1996. doi:10.1088/0957-4484/7/3/009method origin
Drawn by LabCanvas after Shen, Gwak & Han, Analyst 2024 (doi:10.1039/d3an01739g), Xue et al., Chem. Rev. 2019 and Reneker & Chun, Nanotechnology 1996, and the papers in the details.
How templates are written and checked: editorial guidelines.
Questions
What does the “Microfluidic synthesis and electrospinning” template show?
Continuous processes in six panels: hydrodynamic flow focusing, a staggered herringbone mixer, glass-capillary 3D focusing and droplet microfluidics for nanoparticle synthesis, then the electrospinning set-up and its four steps from Taylor cone to fibre mat. Each caption quotes the cited papers.
What are the steps shown in “Microfluidic synthesis and electrospinning”?
1. Laminar microchannels: Channels tens to hundreds of µm across keep the flow laminar; mixing in milliseconds separates nucleation, growth and aggregation better than batch methods (Shen 2024). 2. Hydrodynamic flow focusing: In a three-inlet device the slower central organic stream is sheathed into a thin sheet by faster aqueous side streams; focusing in 3D keeps it off the walls, reducing attachment and clogging (Shen 2024). 3. Staggered herringbone mixer: Asymmetric protrusions stir the two fluids chaotically, mixing them within 10 or 15 cycles of the pattern (Shen 2024). 4. Glass capillaries and droplets: Tapered round capillaries inserted into a square capillary carry the organic solvent as the inner phase and the aqueous solution as the outer phase, focused in 3D; droplet generators confine reactions to picolitre water-in-oil droplets, commonly used for inorganic nanoparticles (Shen 2024). 5. Electrospinning set-up: A high-voltage power supply (DC or AC), a syringe pump, a spinneret (usually a blunt-tipped hypodermic needle) and a conductive collector (Xue 2019). 6. Cone, jet, whipping, fibres: Electrostatic repulsion among like surface charges deforms the pendant droplet into a Taylor cone, from which a charged jet is ejected; the jet extends in a straight line, then whips through bending instabilities, thins, solidifies and deposits as fibres on the grounded collector (Xue 2019).
What are the starting materials and the product?
Starting materials: An organic phase and an aqueous phase in microchannels; a polymer solution in a syringe. Product: Nanoparticles formed downstream of the mixer or inside droplets; a nonwoven fibre mat.
Which papers is “Microfluidic synthesis and electrospinning” based on?
Shen, Gwak & Han, “Advanced manufacturing of nanoparticle formulations of drugs and biologics using microfluidics”, Analyst 2024 (doi:10.1039/d3an01739g); Xue et al., “Electrospinning and electrospun nanofibers: methods, materials, and applications”, Chem. Rev. 2019 (doi:10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00593); Reneker & Chun, “Nanometre diameter fibres of polymer, produced by electrospinning”, Nanotechnology 1996 (doi:10.1088/0957-4484/7/3/009).
Can I edit the “Microfluidic synthesis and electrospinning” template?
Yes. Open it in the LabCanvas editor: all 45 layers are editable, including 6 generated objects (structures, plots, equipment) with their own settings. Change the text, colours and layout, then export PNG, TIFF, SVG or PDF.
Do I need an account to use this template?
Not to view it here. To open and edit it, sign in to LabCanvas or create a free account (the free plan keeps up to 3 designs). Downloading the figure is part of LabCanvas Pro (US$19 a month or US$199 a year).
