Using electrowetting to control interface motion in patterned microchannels

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates a novel microfluidic valve that combines electrowetting and surface patterning to control interface motion in microchannels, using mesoscale simulations to validate its feasibility.

Contribution

It introduces a new valve mechanism leveraging Gibbs' pinning and electrowetting in patterned microchannels, advancing microfluidic control methods.

Findings

Feasibility of electrowetting-based control demonstrated via simulations.

Gibbs' pinning effectively stabilizes interface positions.

Potential for precise microfluidic manipulation established.

Abstract

We use mesoscale simulations to demonstrate the feasibility of a novel microfluidic valve, which exploits Gibbs' pinning in microchannels patterned by posts or ridges, together with electrowetting.