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Continuous Electrowetting Actuation Utilizing Current Rectification Properties of Valve Metal Films

Electrowetting on dielectric (EWOD) is a technique for reducing the apparent contact angle of a fluid droplet, which has many promising applications in the fields of optics, digital displays, and lab-on-a-chip research. In this thesis, a design is presented for a novel single circuit device for achieving continuous droplet motion, by using the current-rectifying properties of valve metals to create diode-like behavior. This contrasts with existing designs, which require an array of individual electrodes to achieve motion in discrete steps. We are able to demonstrate continuous droplet motion across a 28mm-long test strip with an applied voltage of 303 V and a velocity of 5.59 mm/s (at 370 V) using an ionic-fluid electrolyte (BMIM-PF6), and have achieved actuation at as low as 185 V, with a maximum observed velocity (at 300 V) of 13.8 mm/s using a 1M sodium sulfate solution.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:USF/oai:scholarcommons.usf.edu:etd-4714
Date31 December 2010
CreatorsLynch, Corey
PublisherScholar Commons
Source SetsUniversity of South Flordia
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
SourceGraduate Theses and Dissertations
Rightsdefault

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