title: Two-phase microfluidics in electrowetting displays and its effect on optical performance.
abstract: Driving microfluidic flow in micropixels by electrowetting to realize light switches and displays is of both practical and fundamental significance. The electro-optical performance related to microfluidic behavior needs to be clarified to optimize device functions. In this article, the microfluidic performance in electrowetting display devices was categorized according to the oil-water interface shape and response. The oil film movement was divided into vertically "thinning" and transversally "opening," for which the "thinning" process was found the key factor determining the pixel switching speed rather than the "opening" process. Therefore, the breakup point and the oil film thickness were critical, which could be controlled by surface wettability and oil volume. We have also realized a new oil filling method with controllable dosing volume assisted by the microfluidic creation of microdroplets. This study could help quantitatively understand electrowetting display performance in both its theoretical and practical aspects.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics , South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-7174-5478
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics , South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Mingliang
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.affiliation: BIOS/Lab-on-a-Chip group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente , Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan C T
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Eijkel
authors.forename: Guofu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Institute of Electronic Paper Displays, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics , South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Lingling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Shui