Strong charge trapping and bistable electrowetting on nanocomposite fluoropolymer:BaTiO3 dielectrics

Strong charge trapping and bistable electrowetting on nanocomposite fluoropolymer:BaTiO3 dielectrics are reported. Thin nanocomposite dielectrics were spin casted from BaTiO3 nanopowder dispersed in a fluoropolymer/fluorosolvent solution. Electrowetting contact angle versus voltage and capacitance measurements confirm a severalfold increase in film dielectric constant with increasing BaTiO3 content. Bistable electrowetting was observed as droplets retained a decreased contact angle at 0 V but would dewet the surface by briefly applying a reverse polarity voltage. Strong charge trapping in the nanocomposite was confirmed by charge-voltage hysteresis. These results could prove important for low-power applications such as bistable displays and electronic paper. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics.