Fundamentals and Application of Electrowetting on Dielectrics

A review of the electrowetting EW phenomenon and its applications is provided. The state of the art includes already implemented technologies like EW displays or variable focus lenses but also laboratory level researches in the lab-on-chip and fluid manipulation field. In the second part of the work some preliminary experimental results are provided for the electrowetting on fluoropolymer coated anodized aluminum, as example of EWOD electrowetting on dielectrics. Anodization was performed in weakly acidic or neutral 2% wt. boric acid solution in water with an applied voltage range between 10 and 40 V, then coating the surface with AF 1600. Experimental electrowetting data fit with the Young-Lippmann relation, confirming aluminum as a promising material for electrowetting applications. Keywords: Displays, electrowetting, electrowetting-on-dielectric, lenses, microfluidics, Young-Lippmann equation.