ELECTROWETTING ON DIELECTRIC DEVICE INCLUDING SURFACTANT CONTAINING SILOXANE GROUP

1 . An electrowetting on dielectric device, comprising:

(a) a first substrate comprising electrodes at a surface of the first substrate configured to effect electrowetting mediated droplet operations;

(b) a second substrate spaced from the surface of the first substrate to define an interior volume between the first substrate and the second substrate;

(c) a liquid droplet disposed in the interior volume; and

(d) a filler fluid disposed in the interior volume and surrounding the liquid droplet,

wherein one or both of the liquid droplet and filler fluid contains a surfactant, the surfactant comprising a siloxane group represented by the structural formula:

where n≧1.

2 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is provided at a concentration ranging from about 0.001 to about 10% w/w in the liquid droplet or the filler fluid.

3 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the filler fluid comprises a silicone oil.

4 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the filler fluid comprises:

where 7>n>1.

5 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the filler fluid comprises a hydrocarbon oil.

6 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant has no overall charge.

7 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is anionic or cationic.

8 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant further comprises a polyol.

9 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant further comprises polyethylene glycol.

10 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant further comprises polyoxyethylene glycol (—(CH 2 CH 2 —O—) n ) where n≧1.

11 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant further comprises polyoxypropylene glycol (—(CH 2 CHCH 3 —O—) n ) where n≧1.

12 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant further comprises a hydrocarbon chain (CH 2 )n where n≧1.

13 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is represented by the structural formula:

wherein a≧1, b≧1, c≧1, and d≧1; and

R═—H or —CH 3 .

14 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is represented by the structural formula:

wherein a≧1, b≧1, c≧1, d≧1, and e≧1; and

R═—H or —CH 3 .

15 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is represented by the structural formula:

wherein a≧1 and b≧1; and

R═—H or —CH 3 .

16 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is represented by the structural formula:

wherein a≧1, b≧1, and c≧1; and

R═—H or —CH 3 .

17 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the surfactant is represented by the structural formula:

wherein a≧1, b≧1, c≧1, d≧1, ≧1 and f≧1; and

R═—H or —CH 3 .

18 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the filler fluid contains the surfactant, the surfactant soluble in the filler fluid.

19 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 18 , wherein the liquid droplet contains an additional surfactant.

20 . The electrowetting on dielectric device of claim 1 , wherein the liquid droplet contains the surfactant and the surfactant is soluble in the liquid droplet.