Scalable fabrication of electrowetting displays with self-assembled oil dosing

Abstract

Scalable fabrication of electrowetting displays with self-assembled oil dosing is reported. Electrowetting pixel structures consisted of flexible substrate/electrode/hydrophobic dielectric/hydrophilic grid. 20 electrowetting display prototypes were constructed with four pixel sizes ranging from 300×900to50×150μm2 and with five grid thicknesses ranging from 16.2to3.3μm. Self-assembled oil dosing was achieved by dip coating the substrate through an oil film suspended on water. The oil films in pixels were geometrically flat. Operating voltage increased with pixel aspect ratio. Electrical capacitance and optical absorption calculations confirm that oil thickness is within ±5% of the hydrophilic grid height.