Virtual Electrowetting Channels

Dhindsa M, Heikenfeld J, Kwon S, Park J, Rack PD, Papautsky I, et al. Virtual electrowetting channels electronic liquid transport with continuous channel functionality. Lab Chip... 

Virtual Electrowetting Channels, Fig. 1 Cross-section of a pressure-driven electrowetting device. 

Virtual Electrowetting Channels, Fig. 7 Programmable fluid paths in an X-channel. Each inlet and outlet can be activated independently by application of bias to the associated electrode. Channel formation from top to bottom. B to D, B to C, A to C, A and B to D, and A to C and D. Flow rate at each inlet was maintained at 5 pL/min [2]... 

Baneijee A, Kreit E, Liu Y, Heikenfeld J, Papautsky I (2012) Reconfigurabie virtual electrowetting channels. Lab Chip 12 758-764... 

These results confirm the hypothesis of virtual channel formation (Fig. 5). The horizontal radius of curvature of this meniscus is clearly half the channel width, measured to be 250 pm (w/2) which matches theoretical analysis. The front of the meniscus exhibits visible fading when viewed from the top, indicating a thinner fluid due to electrowetting of the meniscus at the bottom down to dh 60°. The sidewalls of the channel appear relatively sharp and straight, which is expected since the sidewall contact angle 0 is expected to be vertical. 

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