IMPROVING THE OPERATION OF ELECTROWETTING-BASED DIGITAL MICRO- FLUIDIC SYSTEMS BY USING WATER-OIL CORE- SHELL DROPLETS

In electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD)-based digital microfluidic devices, discrete droplets are typically transported either directly in air or in an immiscible fluid such as silicone oil. We propose herein an alternative mode of operation in which the droplets are enclosed in a thin oil shell. We show that such water-oil core-shell droplets offer several key advantages. Specifically, this mode of operation not only reduces the voltage required by the devices but also leads to higher transport velocities when compared with the manipulation of droplets directly in air or oil.