Droplet actuator devices and methods
A microfluidic device having a substrate with an electrically conductive element made using a conductive ink layer underlying a hydrophobic layer.
1. A microfluidic device comprising: a layered substrate comprising:
(a) a base substrate;
(b) an electrically conductive element comprising a conductive ink layer on the base substrate; and
(c) a hydrophobic layer overlying at least a portion of the conductive ink layer in the base substrate; and
further comprising a second substrate separated from the layered substrate to provide a gap between the layered substrate and the second substrate.
2. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the conductive ink comprises a PEDOT ink.
3. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the conductive ink comprises a PEDOT:PSS ink.
4. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the conductive ink comprises a PEDOT ink and the hydrophobic layer comprises a CYTOP coating.
5. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the conductive ink comprises a PEDOT:PSS ink and the hydrophobic layer comprises a CYTOP coating.
6. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the conductive ink comprises a PEDOT ink and the hydrophobic layer comprises a fluoropolymer coating.
7. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the conductive ink comprises a PEDOT:PSS ink and the hydrophobic layer comprises a fluoropolymer coating.
8. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the conductive ink comprises a PEDOT ink and the hydrophobic layer comprises an amorphous fluoropolymer coating.
9. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the conductive ink comprises a PEDOT:PSS ink and the hydrophobic layer comprises an amorphous fluoropolymer coating.
10. The microfluidic device of claim 1 wherein the second substrate comprises: (a) an electrically conductive element comprising a conductive ink layer on the second substrate facing the gap; and (b) a hydrophobic layer overlying at least a portion of the conductive ink layer on the second substrate.
11. The microfluidic device of claim 1 further comprising a droplet in the gap.
12. The microfluidic device of claim 1 further comprising an oil filler fluid in the gap.
13. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the base substrate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon-based materials, glass, plastic and PCB.
14. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the base substrate is made from a material selected from the group consisting of glass, polycarbonate, COC, COP, PMMA, polystyrene and plastic.
15. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic layer material comprises a fluoropolymer.
16. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic layer material comprises an amorphous fluoropolymer.
17. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the hydrophobic layer material comprises a polytetrafluoroethylene polymer.
18. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the conductive ink layer comprises a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) material.
19. The layered substrate of claim 1 wherein the conductive ink layer comprises at least one of CLEVOS P Jet N, CLEVOS P Jet HC, CLEVOS P Jet N V2 and CLEVOS P Jet HC V2.
20. A layered substrate comprising:
(a) a base substrate;
(b) an electrically conductive element comprising the conductive ink layer on the base substrate; and
(c) a hydrophobic layer overlying at least a portion of the conductive ink layer in the base substrate; and
wherein the electrically conductive element comprising a conductive ink layer on the base substrate comprises an electrode in an array of electrodes.
21. The layered substrate of claim 20 further comprising a droplet on the hydrophobic layer.
22. The layered substrate of claim 20 further comprising an oil filler fluid on the hydrophobic layer.
23. A layered substrate comprising:
(a) a base substrate;
(b) an electrically conductive element comprising the conductive ink layer on the base substrate; and
(c) a hydrophobic layer overlying at least a portion of the conductive ink layer in the base substrate; and
wherein the electrically conductive element comprising a conductive ink layer on the base substrate comprises electrowetting electrodes.
24. A layered substrate comprising:
(a) a base substrate;
(b) an electrically conductive element comprising the conductive ink layer on the base substrate; and
(c) a hydrophobic layer overlying at least a portion of the conductive ink layer on the base substrate; and
further comprising a dielectric layer disposed between the an electrically conductive element comprising a conductive ink layer on the base substrate and the hydrophobic layer overlying at least a portion of the conductive ink layer on the base substrate.
25. A layered substrate comprising:
(a) a base substrate;
(b) an electrically conductive element comprising a conductive ink layer on the base substrate; and
(c) a hydrophobic layer overlying at least a portion of the conductive ink layer on the base substrate;
wherein the base substrate is subject to a corona treatment prior to applying the conductive ink.
26. A layered substrate comprising:
(a) a base substrate
(b) an electrically conductive element comprising a conductive ink layer on the base substrate; and
(c) a hydrophobic layer overlying at least a portion of the conductive ink layer on the base substrate;
wherein the conductive ink comprises a CYTOP and the CYTOP is applied as a formulation in which the CYTOP is dissolved in a fluorinert solvent.