title: Invariance of the solid-liquid interfacial energy in electrowetting probed via capillary condensation.
abstract: Capillary condensation is employed to probe the solid-liquid interfacial energy in electrowetting on dielectric. The height of an annular water meniscus formed via capillary condensation inside the surface force apparatus is measured as a function of the potential applied across the meniscus and the dielectric stack where the meniscus is formed. According to the Kelvin equation, a decrease in the solid-liquid interfacial energy at constant temperature and relative humidity should lead to an increase in the meniscus height. Our experimental results on nanometer-sized meniscus are in agreement with the work of Mugele [J. Phys.: Condens. Matter 2007, 19, 375112] and unequivocally demonstrate that the real contact angle (or the solid-liquid interfacial energy) remains unaltered in electrowetting on dielectric.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, USA.
authors.forename: Rohini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Gloria K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Olivier
authors.forename: Joelle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frechette