Nonwoven electrowetting textiles

Electrowetting of two nonwoven textile platforms is reported. Demonstrated nonwoven textiles include a polyethylene naphthalate film that was laser milled with similar to 125 mu m pores, and pressed paper that was made using wood microfibers of 35-50 mu m diameter. Vacuum deposition provided an Al electrode on the polymer textile whereas layer-by-layer nanoassembly provided an organic PEI-PEDOT:PSS electrode on the wood microfibers. Both textiles were electrically insulated with parylene C and fluoropolymer. Irreversible electrowetting of water was achieved over contact angles of similar to 120 degrees to similar to 70 degrees by applying 0-100 V. Completely reversible electrowetting of water/oil was also demonstrated. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.