Towards digital microfluidic circuits: creating, transporting, cutting and merging liquid droplets by electrowetting-based actuation

Abstract

This paper reports a breakthrough in our quest for digital microfluidic circuits - full completion of all four fundamental microfluidic operations: (1) creating, (2) transporting, (3) cutting, and (4) merging of liquid droplets, based on electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) actuation. All the operations were achieved with 25 V/sub DC/ lower than EWOD actuation voltages previously reported. We also report conditions to reduce the driving voltage even further and conditions to drive a droplet as fast as 250 mm/s.