Research

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10 pages, 1841 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Microfluidic qPCR Cartridge for SARS-CoV-2 Detection

by Kuan-Lun Ho, Hong-Yu Liao, Helene Minyi Liu, Yen-Wen Lu, Pin-Kuan Yeh, Justin Yu Chang and Shih-Kang Fan

Micromachines 2022, 13(2), 196; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/mi13020196 - 27 Jan 2022

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 3391

Abstract

Point-of-care (POC) tests capable of individual health monitoring, transmission reduction, and contact tracing are especially important in a pandemic such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We develop a disposable POC cartridge that can be mass produced to detect the SARS-CoV-2 N gene [...] Read more.

Point-of-care (POC) tests capable of individual health monitoring, transmission reduction, and contact tracing are especially important in a pandemic such as the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We develop a disposable POC cartridge that can be mass produced to detect the SARS-CoV-2 N gene through real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) based on digital microfluidics (DMF). Several critical parameters are studied and improved, including droplet volume consistency, temperature uniformity, and fluorescence intensity linearity on the designed DMF cartridge. The qPCR results showed high accuracy and efficiency for two primer-probe sets of N1 and N2 target regions of the SARS-CoV-2 N gene on the DMF cartridge. Having multiple droplet tracks for qPCR, the presented DMF cartridge can perform multiple tests and controls at once. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrowetting and Smart/Programmable Liquid Interfaces in Microfluidics)

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14 pages, 2275 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Modelling of Electrowetting-Induced Droplet Detachment and Jumping over Topographically Micro-Structured Surfaces

by Alexandros G. Sourais and Athanasios G. Papathanasiou

Micromachines 2021, 12(6), 592; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/mi12060592 - 21 May 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1807

Abstract

Detachment and jumping of liquid droplets over solid surfaces under electrowetting actuation are of fundamental interest in many microfluidic and heat transfer applications. In this study we demonstrate the potential capabilities of our continuum-level, sharp-interface modelling approach, which overcomes some important limitations of [...] Read more.

Detachment and jumping of liquid droplets over solid surfaces under electrowetting actuation are of fundamental interest in many microfluidic and heat transfer applications. In this study we demonstrate the potential capabilities of our continuum-level, sharp-interface modelling approach, which overcomes some important limitations of convectional hydrodynamic models, when simulating droplet detachment and jumping dynamics over flat and micro-structured surfaces. Preliminary calculations reveal a considerable connection between substrate micro-topography and energy efficiency of the process. The latter results could be extended to the optimal design of micro-structured solid surfaces for electrowetting-induced droplet removal in ambient conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrowetting and Smart/Programmable Liquid Interfaces in Microfluidics)

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12 pages, 2993 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Design of Driving Waveform for Shortening Red Particles Response Time in Three-Color Electrophoretic Displays

by Wenjun Zeng, Zichuan Yi, Xichen Zhou, Yiming Zhao, Haoqiang Feng, Jianjun Yang, Liming Liu, Feng Chi, Chongfu Zhang and Guofu Zhou

Micromachines 2021, 12(5), 578; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/mi12050578 - 19 May 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2452

Abstract

Three-color electrophoretic displays (EPDs) have the advantages of multi-color display and low power consumption. However, their red particles have the disadvantage of long response time. In this paper, a driving waveform, which is based on electrophoresis theory and reference gray scale optimization, was [...] Read more.

Three-color electrophoretic displays (EPDs) have the advantages of multi-color display and low power consumption. However, their red particles have the disadvantage of long response time. In this paper, a driving waveform, which is based on electrophoresis theory and reference gray scale optimization, was proposed to shorten the response time of red particles in three-color EPDs. The driving waveform was composed of erasing stage, reference gray scale forming stage, red driving stage, and white or black driving stage. Firstly, the characteristics of particle motion were analyzed by electrophoresis theory and Stokes law. Secondly, the reference gray scale of the driving waveform was optimized to shorten the distance between red particles and a common electrode plate. Finally, an experimental platform was developed to test the performance of the driving waveform. Experimental results showed that the proposed driving waveform can shorten the response time of red particles by 65.57% and reduce the number of flickers by 66.67% compared with the traditional driving waveform. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrowetting and Smart/Programmable Liquid Interfaces in Microfluidics)

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12 pages, 2943 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Separated Reset Waveform Design for Suppressing Oil Backflow in Active Matrix Electrowetting Displays

by Linwei Liu, Pengfei Bai, Zichuan Yi and Guofu Zhou

Micromachines 2021, 12(5), 491; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/mi12050491 - 27 Apr 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2130

Abstract

The electrowetting display (EWD) is a kind of reflective paper-like display. Flicker and grayscale distortion are caused by oil backflow, which is one of the important factors restricting the wide application of EWDs. The charge embedding caused by the electric field force in [...] Read more.

The electrowetting display (EWD) is a kind of reflective paper-like display. Flicker and grayscale distortion are caused by oil backflow, which is one of the important factors restricting the wide application of EWDs. The charge embedding caused by the electric field force in the dielectric layer is the cause of oil backflow. To suppress oil backflow, a separated reset waveform based on the study of oil movement is proposed in this paper. The driving waveform is divided into two parts: a reset waveform and a grayscale waveform. The reset waveform generated by a reset circuit can be used to output various voltages. The grayscale waveform is set as a traditional PWM waveform. The reset waveform is composed of a charge-releasing stage and oil-moving back stage. Two phases are contained in the charge releasing stage. The overdriving voltage is used during the first phase to reverse the voltage of all pixels. The trapped charges can then be released from the dielectric layer during the second phase. A higher voltage is used during the oil-moving back stage to drive the oil faster in the pixel. By comparing the experimental data, the oil backflow time is extended 761 times by the reset waveform. The four grayscales can be maintained by the reset waveform after driving for 300 s. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrowetting and Smart/Programmable Liquid Interfaces in Microfluidics)

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16 pages, 20960 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dielectrowetting Control of Capillary Force (Cheerios Effect) between Floating Objects and Wall for Dielectric Fluid

by Junqi Yuan, Jian Feng and Sung Kwon Cho

Micromachines 2021, 12(3), 341; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/mi12030341 - 23 Mar 2021

Viewed by 2997

Abstract

A capillary interaction between floating objects and adjacent walls, which is known as “Cheerios effect”, is a common phenomenon that generates capillary attraction or repulsion forces between them depending on their wettabilities, densities, geometries, and so on. This paper deals with controlling the [...] Read more.

A capillary interaction between floating objects and adjacent walls, which is known as “Cheerios effect”, is a common phenomenon that generates capillary attraction or repulsion forces between them depending on their wettabilities, densities, geometries, and so on. This paper deals with controlling the capillary forces, specifically, acting on objects floating on a dielectric (non-conductive) fluid. A key control input parameter is the wettability (contact angle) of the sidewall adjacent to the floating object. By introducing dielectrowetting to the sidewall and actively changing the contact angle on the sidewall, the capillary force is controlled and easily reversed between attraction and repulsion. In this reversing process, the tilting angle of the sidewall is another critical parameter. A theoretical relation taking the titling angle into account is compared and in good agreement with experimental results obtained from the trajectory of the floating object. Finally, a continuous motion of the floating object is demonstrated using this control where an array of dielectrowetting electrode pads is sequentially activated. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrowetting and Smart/Programmable Liquid Interfaces in Microfluidics)

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17 pages, 18994 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Surface Wettability and Electrical Resistance Analysis of Droplets on Indium-Tin-Oxide Glass Fabricated Using an Ultraviolet Laser System

by Hsin-Yi Tsai, Chih-Ning Hsu, Cheng-Ru Li, Yu-Hsuan Lin, Wen-Tse Hsiao, Kuo-Cheng Huang and J. Andrew Yeh

Micromachines 2021, 12(1), 44; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/mi12010044 - 01 Jan 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2530

Abstract

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is widely used as a substrate for fabricating chips because of its optical transparency, favorable chemical stability, and high electrical conductivity. However, the wettability of ITO surface is neutral (the contact angle was approximately 90°) or hydrophilic. For reagent [...] Read more.

Indium tin oxide (ITO) is widely used as a substrate for fabricating chips because of its optical transparency, favorable chemical stability, and high electrical conductivity. However, the wettability of ITO surface is neutral (the contact angle was approximately 90°) or hydrophilic. For reagent transporting and manipulation in biochip application, the surface wettability of ITO-based chips was modified to the hydrophobic or nearly hydrophobic surface to enable their use with droplets. Due to the above demand, this study used a 355-nm ultraviolet laser to fabricate a comb microstructure on ITO glass to modify the surface wettability characteristics. All of the fabrication patterns with various line width and pitch, depth, and surface roughness were employed. Subsequently, the contact angle (CA) of droplets on the ITO glass was analyzed to examine wettability and electrical performance by using the different voltages applied to the electrode. The proposed approach can succeed in the fabrication of a biochip with suitable comb-microstructure by using the optimal operating voltage and time functions for the catch droplets on ITO glass for precision medicine application. The experiment results indicated that the CA of droplets under a volume of 20 μL on flat ITO substrate was approximately 92° ± 2°; furthermore, due to its lowest surface roughness, the pattern line width and pitch of 110 μm exhibited a smaller CA variation and more favorable spherical droplet morphology, with a side and front view CA of 83° ± 1° and 78.5° ± 2.5°, respectively, while a laser scanning speed of 750 mm/s was employed. Other line width and pitch, as well as scanning speed parameters, increased the surface roughness and resulted in the surface becoming hydrophilic. In addition, to prevent droplet morphology collapse, the droplet’s electric operation voltage and driving time did not exceed 5 V and 20 s, respectively. With this method, the surface modification process can be employed to control the droplet’s CA by adjusting the line width and pitch and the laser scanning speed, especially in the neutral or nearly hydrophobic surface for droplet transporting. This enables the production of a microfluidic chip with a surface that is both light transmittance and has favorable electrical conductivity. In addition, the shape of the microfluidic chip can be directly designed and fabricated using a laser direct writing system on ITO glass, obviating the use of a mask and complicated production processes in biosensing and biomanipulation applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrowetting and Smart/Programmable Liquid Interfaces in Microfluidics)

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17 pages, 4677 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Oil Conductivity, Electric-Field-Induced Interfacial Charge Effects, and Their Influence on the Electro-Optical Response of Electrowetting Display Devices

by Chengdian Jiang, Biao Tang, Bojian Xu, Jan Groenewold and Guofu Zhou

Micromachines 2020, 11(7), 702; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/mi11070702 - 20 Jul 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2381

Abstract

A pixel in an electrowetting display (EWD) can be viewed as a confined water/oil two-phase microfluidic system that can be manipulated by applying an electric field. The phenomenon of charge trapping in the protective dielectric and conductivity of the oil phase reduce the [...] Read more.

A pixel in an electrowetting display (EWD) can be viewed as a confined water/oil two-phase microfluidic system that can be manipulated by applying an electric field. The phenomenon of charge trapping in the protective dielectric and conductivity of the oil phase reduce the effective electric field that is required to keep the three-phase contact line (TCL) in place. This probably leads to an oil-backflow effect which deteriorates the electro-optical performance of EWD devices. In order to investigate charge trapping and conduction effects on the device electro-optical response, an EWD device was studied, which was fabricated with a black oil, aiming for a high-contrast ratio and color-filter display. For comparison, we also prepared a device containing a purple oil, which had a lower electrical conductivity. As anticipated, the black-oil device showed faster backflow than the purple-oil device. A simple model was proposed to explain the role of oil conductivity in the backflow effect. In addition, the rebound and reopening effects were also observed after the voltage was switched to zero. The above observations were strongly dependent on polarity. By combining observations of the polarity dependence of the oil conductivity and assuming that negative charges trap more strongly in the dielectric than positive charges, our experimental results on rebound and reopening can be explained. In the AC optical response, the pixel closing speed decreased in time for intermediate frequencies. This is likely related to the phenomenon of charge trapping. It was also found that the periodic driving method could not suppress the backflow effect when the driving frequency was above ~10 kHz. Our findings confirm the significance of the above charge-related effects of EWD devices, which need to be investigated further for better understanding in order to properly design/use materials and driving schemes to suppress them. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrowetting and Smart/Programmable Liquid Interfaces in Microfluidics)

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Review

Jump to: Research

13 pages, 5193 KiB

Open AccessReview

Progress in Advanced Properties of Electrowetting Displays

by Yi Lu, Biao Tang, Guisong Yang, Yuanyuan Guo, Linwei Liu and Alex Henzen

Micromachines 2021, 12(2), 206; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/mi12020206 - 18 Feb 2021

Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3773

Abstract

Electrowetting display (EWD) has promising prospects in the electronic paper industry due to it having superior characteristics, such as the ability to provide a comfortable reading experience and quick response. However, in real applications, there are also problems related to dielectric deterioration, excess [...] Read more.

Electrowetting display (EWD) has promising prospects in the electronic paper industry due to it having superior characteristics, such as the ability to provide a comfortable reading experience and quick response. However, in real applications, there are also problems related to dielectric deterioration, excess power consumption, optical instability and narrow color gamut etc. This paper reviewed the existing challenges and recent progress made in terms of improving the optical performance and reliability of EWD. First, the principle of electrowetting applied in small and confined configurations is introduced and the cause of the failure of the dielectric layer is analyzed. Then, the function of the pixel structures is described to avoid display defects. Next, electric signal modulations are compared in terms of achieving good image quality and optical stability. Lastly, the methods are presented for color panel realization. It was concluded that multi-layer dielectrics, three-dimensional pixel structures, proper electric frequency-and-amplitude modulation and an RGB color panel are expected to resolve the current limitations and contribute to designing advanced reflective displays. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Electrowetting and Smart/Programmable Liquid Interfaces in Microfluidics)

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