Microfluidic Exploration of the Phase Diagram of a Surfactant/Water   Binary System
  We investigate the behaviour of a binary surfactant solution (AOT/water) as it is progressively concentrated in microfluidic evaporators. We observe in time a succession of phase transitions from a dilute solution up to a dense state, which eventually grows and invades the microchannels. Analyzing these observations, we show that, with a few experiments and a limited amount of material, our microdevices permit a semi-quantitative screening of the equilibrium phase diagram as well as a few kinetic observations. 
Jacques Leng (LF), Mathieu Joanicot (LF), Armand Ajdari (LPCT)