Micromixers

Dear Colleagues,

Micromixer is a key component in a number of microsystems, especially lab-on-a-chip. Micromixers are miniaturized mixing devices for at least two different phases that can be liquids, solids or gases. The structures of a micromixer are fabricated partially or in whole using microtechnology or precision engineering. The characteristic channel size of micromixers is in the sub-millimeter range. Common channel widths are on the order of 100 to 500 μm, while channel length could be a few millimeters or more. The channel height is on the order of the channel width or smaller. The overall volume defined by a micromixer is from microliters to milliliters. Compared with molecular size scale, the length scale and volume scale of micromixers are still very large. This fact leads to two key characteristics of micromixers. First, designing micromixers still relies on manipulating the flow using channel geometry or external disturbances. Secondly, while micromixers bring advantages and new features into chemical engineering, molecular level processes such as reaction kinetics remain almost unchanged. The laminar flow regime poses a challenge to designers of micromixers. New mixing concepts and the optimization of known concepts are the hot research topics in recent years. This special issue aims at attracting and publishing the latest works on micromixers.

Nam-Trung Nguyen, Ph.D.
Guest Editor