Low Voltage Reversible Electrowetting Exploiting Lubricated Polymer Honeycomb Substrates

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates low-voltage reversible electrowetting on lubricated honeycomb polymer surfaces, with different oils enabling operation at voltages as low as 35 V, advancing low-power fluid control technologies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel low-voltage electrowetting scheme using lubricated honeycomb polymer substrates impregnated with oils, with a semi-quantitative analysis of electrowetting behavior.

Findings

Reversible electrowetting achieved at 35 V with silicone oil.

Reversible electrowetting achieved at 80 V with castor oil.

Lubricated honeycomb polymer surfaces enable low-voltage electrowetting.

Abstract

Low-voltage electrowetting-on-dielectric scheme realized with lubricated honeycomb polymer surfaces is reported. Polycarbonate honeycomb reliefs manufactured with the breath-figures self-assembly were impregnated with silicone and castor oils. The onset of the reversible electrowetting for silicone oil impregnated substrates occurred at 35 V, whereas for castor oil impregnated ones it took place at 80 V. The semi-quantitative analysis of electrowetting of impregnated surfaces is proposed.