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Advanced Theory, Materials and Applications for Electrowetting on Structured Surfaces

Dhindsa, Manjeet S.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1299009714

Abstract Details

2011, PhD, University of Cincinnati, Engineering and Applied Science: Electrical Engineering.
In this dissertation, electrowetting on uniformly tailored structured surfaces demonstrates additional functionality by providing a new dimension of fluid motion capability vertically within, or horizontally through microstructured surfaces. Reversible control of fluid motion through microstructures can allow precise control of discrete volumes of liquid, digitally, while providing the functional capability of continuous fluid flow for applications such as lab-on-chip. However, with a view to achieve practical device integration, challenges exist in low voltage electrowetting reliability. Reliable low voltage operation is even more challenging on structured surfaces, and needs to be addressed. These challenges include effects of dielectric charging and eventual failure due to electric field stress, as well as defect related dielectric breakdown. This dissertation therefore also explores materials implications on reliability. Investigations performed herein reveal the contribution of constituent liquid ions on dielectric failure of thin (100 nm) dielectric films for low voltage (< 12 V) electrowetting. This is an important consideration for electrowetting biological liquids in lab-on-chip systems. Also, a new parylene (Parylene HT) is introduced as a conformal, low porosity dielectric for low temperature deposition on polymer structured surfaces. 300 nm thick Parylene HT films can provide low voltage and long term stable electrowetting with no contact angle relaxation. For the extreme case of dielectric breakdown, an electrowetting system utilizing an anodizing mechanism is shown to self-heal against any electrolysis and prevent device failure. The reliability studies in this dissertation are of broad impact to the general electrowetting community, and are a major step towards bringing electrowetting devices to the commercial market.
Jason Heikenfeld (Committee Chair)
Rack Philip (Committee Member)
Ian Papautsky (Committee Member)
Sang Young Son (Committee Member)
Andrew Steckl (Committee Member)
169 p.
Electrical Engineering
Electrowetting on structured surfaces; Parylene HT; Reliable electrowetting; Virtual electrowetting channels; Self healing anodizing electrowetting systems

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Dhindsa, M. S. (2011). Advanced Theory, Materials and Applications for Electrowetting on Structured Surfaces [Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1299009714

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Dhindsa, Manjeet. Advanced Theory, Materials and Applications for Electrowetting on Structured Surfaces. 2011. University of Cincinnati, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1299009714.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Dhindsa, Manjeet. "Advanced Theory, Materials and Applications for Electrowetting on Structured Surfaces." Doctoral dissertation, University of Cincinnati, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1299009714

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1299009714
1,730
© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.