Bidirectional Electrowetting Actuation with Voltage Polarity Dependence

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2010

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3353990

Abstract

This work presents an electrowetting system in which the actuation direction depends on the polarity of the applied voltage. Since electrowetting response depends on the voltage squared, it is typically independent of voltage sign to first order. However, the introduction of an electrochemical diode into the equivalent electrical circuit permits polarity-dependent behavior. Electrochemical diodes were created by making holes in the dielectric. The aluminum electrodes passivate and prevent current flow in one direction, creating diodelike electrical behavior with high breakdown voltage. The resulting actuation forces were directly measured and are of comparable magnitude for both actuation directions.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Applied Physics Letters, v. 96, issue 10, art. 104103

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