title: Interfacial electrofluidics in confined systems.
abstract: Electrofluidics is a versatile principle that can be used for high speed actuation of liquid interfaces. In most of the applications, the fundamental mechanism of electro-capillary instability plays a crucial role, yet it's potential richness in confined fluidic layers has not been well addressed. Electrofluidic displays which are comprised of thin pixelated colored films in a range of architectures are excellent systems for studying such phenomena. In this study we show theoretically and experimentally that confinement leads to the generation of a cascade of voltage dependent modes as a result of the electro-capillary instability. In the course of reconciling theory with our experimental data we have observed a number of previously unreported phenomena such as a significant induction time (several milliseconds) prior to film rupture as well as a rupture location not corresponding to the minimum electric field strength in the case of the standard convex water/oil interface used in working devices. These findings are broadly applicable to a wide range of switchable electrofluidic applications and devices having confined liquid films.
authors.affiliation: Electronic Paper Display Institute, South China Normal University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Electronic Paper Display Institute, South China Normal University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China.|Van 't Hoff Laboratory for Physical and Colloid Chemistry, Debye Research Institute, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Groenewold
authors.affiliation: Electronic Paper Display Institute, South China Normal University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Electronic Paper Display Institute, South China Normal University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.affiliation: Electronic Paper Display Institute, South China Normal University, Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Guofu G F
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Zhou