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<p>In microfluidic systems, achieving rapid and efficient mixing remains a significant challenge due to the prevalence of laminar flow and diffusion-limited transport. Acoustic streaming generated by sharp-edge structures has emerged as a promising active mixing technique. This study introduces a novel acoustic micromixer featuring a strategically engineered mixing chamber with integrated sharp-edge structures, distinctly characterized by its widened central mixing zone (Geometry 2), compared to a standard straight-channel design (Geometry 1). Actuated by a piezoelectric transducer (PZT), the device leverages localized acoustic streaming vortices for enhanced mixing efficiency (ME). This paper systematically deconvolutes the effects of the sharp-edge angle (θ) and the inter-edge distance (b) on vortex formation and mixing performance. The results establish that acute sharp-edge angles (θ = 45°) and minimal spacing (b = 400 µm) are paramount for generating powerful, constructive streaming flows. The optimized Geometry 2 achieves a near-perfect ME of 96.4%, with a uniform outlet concentration profile of 0.5 ± 0.01, significantly outperforming the 55% efficiency observed for obtuse angles (θ = 180°) and larger distances (b = 800 µm). Crucially, the innovative chamber design of Geometry 2 demonstrates superior performance over the conventional Geometry 1 under identical actuation conditions, highlighting the advantage of the widened mixing zone. This performance (ME &gt; 96%) compares favorably with the state-of-the-art in sharp-edge acoustic mixers, which typically report efficiencies in the range of 90–95% for similar mixing lengths. The present findings provide definitive, quantitative design guidelines, proving that the synergistic optimization of both the sharp-edge geometry and the global chamber architecture is essential to unlock the full potential of acoustic streaming for overcoming diffusion-limited mixing in microfluidic applications.</p>

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Acoustic streaming impact on micromixing of a novel microfluidic device

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月22日

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  • Hongwei Wu,
  • Lanlan Sun,
  • Qian Cheng,
  • Qiang Zhu

摘要

In microfluidic systems, achieving rapid and efficient mixing remains a significant challenge due to the prevalence of laminar flow and diffusion-limited transport. Acoustic streaming generated by sharp-edge structures has emerged as a promising active mixing technique. This study introduces a novel acoustic micromixer featuring a strategically engineered mixing chamber with integrated sharp-edge structures, distinctly characterized by its widened central mixing zone (Geometry 2), compared to a standard straight-channel design (Geometry 1). Actuated by a piezoelectric transducer (PZT), the device leverages localized acoustic streaming vortices for enhanced mixing efficiency (ME). This paper systematically deconvolutes the effects of the sharp-edge angle (θ) and the inter-edge distance (b) on vortex formation and mixing performance. The results establish that acute sharp-edge angles (θ = 45°) and minimal spacing (b = 400 µm) are paramount for generating powerful, constructive streaming flows. The optimized Geometry 2 achieves a near-perfect ME of 96.4%, with a uniform outlet concentration profile of 0.5 ± 0.01, significantly outperforming the 55% efficiency observed for obtuse angles (θ = 180°) and larger distances (b = 800 µm). Crucially, the innovative chamber design of Geometry 2 demonstrates superior performance over the conventional Geometry 1 under identical actuation conditions, highlighting the advantage of the widened mixing zone. This performance (ME > 96%) compares favorably with the state-of-the-art in sharp-edge acoustic mixers, which typically report efficiencies in the range of 90–95% for similar mixing lengths. The present findings provide definitive, quantitative design guidelines, proving that the synergistic optimization of both the sharp-edge geometry and the global chamber architecture is essential to unlock the full potential of acoustic streaming for overcoming diffusion-limited mixing in microfluidic applications.