An aspirin solution flowing through a needle at 0.36ml h(-1) (10(-10) m(3) s(-1)) was subjected to an electric field of 0.36kV mm(-1) to generate droplets. The aspirin droplet size distribution generated was measured and is shown to be trimodal with the most significant size, similar to 6 mu m. Deposited droplets and their aspirin crystal relics were also studied by electron microscopy. Immediately after deposition, the droplets were remarkably uniform in size and produced particulate crystals << 10 mu m and were considerably more regular in morphology when compared with those formed without using an electric field. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.