Inkjet-printed patterned polytitanosiloxane-fluoropolymer composite dielectric layer for micro-optical electrowetting valves

Fluid motion control has always been essential in electrowetting devices. Using the inkjet printing technique, an organic-inorganic hybrid material, polytitanosiloxane, was patterned as a secondary dielectric under the hydrophobic fluoropolymer coating in an optical electrowetting device (OEWD). The effects of different structural parameters of the inkjet-printed polytitanosiloxane (IPP) layer on both the fluid motion at the microscopic level and the macroscopic visual performances of the device were studied experimentally. The leakage-current test was also performed to evaluate the insulating performance of the composite dielectric layer. In addition, COMSOL Multiphysics was used to simulate the fluid flow inside the OEWD with/without the polytitanosiloxane layer. The results showed that, by introducing this IPP layer, precise fluid motion control and improved performance could be obtained.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates that fluid motion control and device performance in optical electrowetting devices can be improved by introducing an inkjet-printed polytitanosiloxane layer. Experimentally, different structural parameters of the IPP layer were found to affect both microscopic and macroscopic performances of the device.