Substrate for an electrowetting display device and method of manufacturing the substrate
A substrate for an electrowetting display device including a pixel electrode, a partition wall pattern and a water-repellent pattern. The pixel electrode is formed on a base substrate. The partition wall pattern is disposed along an edge of the pixel electrode to expose the pixel electrode. The water-repellent pattern is disposed at a space formed by the pixel electrode and the partition wall pattern to be extended along a lower portion of side surfaces of the partition wall pattern from an area on which the pixel electrode is formed. The water-repellent pattern exposes an upper portion of the side surfaces and an upper surface of the partition wall pattern. Thus, a manufacturing reliability of a substrate for an electrowetting display device is improved to prevent a display quality from being reduced.
1. An electrowetting display device comprising:
an electrode layer disposed on a substrate;
partition walls disposed adjacent to an edge of the electrode layer;
a first portion of a water-repellent layer disposed on the electrode layer and at least partially surrounded by the partition walls, wherein the first portion of the water-repellent layer is substantially disposed in a first plane; and
a layer disposed on the partition walls and comprising both a water repellent region and a hydrophilic region, the water repellent region including a second portion of the water-repellent layer substantially disposed in a second plane perpendicular to the first plane and disposed on a lower portion of side surfaces of the partition walls; and the hydrophilic region including a hydrophilic layer disposed on an upper portion of the side surfaces of the partition walls and a top surface of the partition walls.
2. The electrowetting display device of claim 1 , further comprising a first fluid and a second fluid, wherein the first fluid at least partially covers the first portion of the water-repellent layer and wherein the second fluid is in contact with the upper portion of the side surfaces of the partition walls.
3. The electrowetting display device of claim 2 , wherein the first fluid comprises oil and the second fluid comprises ethylene glycol.
4. The electrowetting display device of claim 2 , further comprising a common electrode disposed directly on the second fluid, wherein
the electrode layer comprises a pixel electrode and a notch electrode, the pixel electrode to apply a first voltage to the second fluid while the notch electrode and the common electrode apply a second voltage to the second fluid, the second voltage being different from the first voltage.
5. The electrowetting display device of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the water-repellent layer and the second portion of the water-repellent layer have a greater hydrophobicity than the partition walls.
6. The electrowetting display device of claim 1 , wherein
the partition walls extend perpendicularly from the substrate by a first distance,
the second portion of the water-repellent layer is disposed along the lower portion of the side surfaces of the partition walls from the first portion of the water-repellent layer to a second distance from the substrate, and
the second distance is less than the first distance.
7. The electrowetting display device of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic layer and the water-repellent layer are connected to each other to form one layer completely covering the substrate on which the partition walls are formed.
8. The electrowetting display device of claim 1 , wherein the partition walls comprise a photoresist material.
9. The electrowetting display device of claim 1 , wherein the hydrophilic layer comprises an ion-injected material.
10. The electrowetting display device of claim 1 , wherein
the first portion of the water-repellent layer is disposed on the electrode layer with a first thickness,
the second portion of the water-repellent layer is disposed on the lower portion of the side surfaces of the partition walls with a second thickness, and
the second thickness is less than the first thickness.
11. The electrowetting display device of claim 1 , further comprising a silicon oxide layer or a silicon nitride layer between the first portion of the water-repellent layer and the electrode layer.
12. The electrowetting display device of claim 1 , wherein the water-repellent layer comprises a first concentration of hydroxyl and the hydrophilic layer comprises a second concentration of hydroxyl that is greater than the first concentration of hydroxyl.
13. An electrowetting display device comprising:
a first substrate and a second substrate facing the first substrate;
a fluid layer between the first substrate and the second substrate;
an electrode layer disposed on the first substrate;
partition walls disposed on the first substrate and adjacent to an edge of the electrode layer;
a horizontal portion of a water-repellent layer disposed on the electrode layer and between the partition walls; and
a layer that comprises both a water repellent region and a hydrophilic region, the layer disposed on the partition walls, the water repellent region including
a vertical portion of the water-repellent layer that is substantially perpendicular to the horizontal portion of a water-repellent layer, wherein the vertical portion of the water-repellent layer covers a lower portion of the partition walls; and wherein the hydrophilic region includes
a hydrophilic layer disposed on an upper portion and a top surface of the partition walls.
14. The electrowetting display device of claim 13 , wherein the fluid layer comprises a first fluid and a second fluid, wherein the first fluid at least partially covers the horizontal portion of the water-repellent layer and wherein the second fluid is in contact with the upper portion of the partition walls.
15. The electrowetting display device of claim 13 , wherein the horizontal portion of the water-repellent layer and the vertical portion of the water-repellent layer have a greater hydrophobicity than the partition walls.
16. The electrowetting display device of claim 13 , wherein
the partition walls extend perpendicularly from the first substrate by a first distance,
the vertical portion of the water-repellent layer is disposed on the lower portion of the partition walls from the horizontal portion of the water-repellent layer to a second distance from the first substrate, and
the second distance is less than the first distance.
17. The electrowetting display device of claim 13 , wherein
the horizontal portion of the water-repellent layer is disposed on the electrode layer with a first thickness,
the vertical portion of the water-repellent layer is disposed on the lower portion of the partition walls with a second thickness, and
the second thickness is less than the first thickness.
18. The electrowetting display device of claim 13 , wherein the water-repellent layer comprises a first concentration of hydroxyl and the hydrophilic layer comprises a second concentration of hydroxyl that is greater than the first concentration of hydroxyl.