Electrowetting-based actuation of liquid droplets for microfluidic applications
Abstract
A microactuator for rapid manipulation of discrete microdroplets is presented. Microactuation is accomplished by direct electrical control of the surface tension through two sets of opposing planar electrodes fabricated on glass. A prototype device consisting of a linear array of seven electrodes at 1.5 mm pitch was fabricated and tested. Droplets (0.7-1.0 μl) of 100 mM KCl solution were successfully transferred between adjacent electrodes at voltages of 40-80 V. Repeatable transport of droplets at electrode switching rates of up to 20 Hz and average velocities of 30 mm/s have been demonstrated. This speed represents a nearly 100-fold increase over previously demonstrated electrical methods for the transport of droplets on solid surfaces.
- Publication:
-
Applied Physics Letters
- Pub Date:
- September 2000
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.1308534
- Bibcode:
- 2000ApPhL..77.1725P
- Keywords:
-
- 07.10.Cm;
- 68.45.Gd;
- Micromechanical devices and systems