Electrowetting: Fundamental Principles and Practical Applications

Starting from the basic principles of wetting, electrowetting and fluid dynamics all the way up to those engineering aspects relevant for the development of specific devices, this is a comprehensive introduction and overview of the theoretical and practical aspects. Written by two of the most knowledgeable experts in the field, the text covers both current as well as possible future applications, providing basic working principles of lab-on-a-chip devices and such optofluidic devices as adaptive lenses and optical switches. Furthermore, novel e-paper display technology, energy harvesting and supercapacitors as well as electrowetting in the nano-world are discussed. Finally, the book contains a series of exercises and questions for use in courses on microfluidics or electrowetting. With its all-encompassing scope, this book will equally serve the growing community of students and academic and industrial researchers as both an introduction and a standard reference.

Author Biography: Frieder Mugele is the head of the Physics of Complex Fluids group at the University of Twente in Enschede, The Netherlands. Having obtained his academic degrees in physics at the University of Konstanz, Germany, he spent several years at the University of California in Berkeley, USA, and the University of Ulm, Germany, before his present appointment in Twente. Professor Mugele's research focuses on various aspects of solid-liquid interfaces and the properties of liquids on the micro- and nanoscale. He has been active in electrowetting since the late 1990s contributing in particular to the theoretical understanding and to fundamental concepts of electrowetting-driven microfluidics. Jason Heikenfeld is a Professor and Assistant Vice President for Commercialization at the Univ. of Cincinnati. He directs the Novel Devices Laboratory which has established highly-focused international leadership roles in an emergent technological paradigms including electrowetting, electronic paper, and most recently sweat biosensing technology. Prof. Heikenfeld's research approach centers on discovering and addressing the hidden challenges that can hinder the transition of innovative science into commercial application. Professor Heikenfeld is also a prolific inventor and serial entrepreneur, and during his teaching years was the highest-rated STEM educator at the University of Cincinnati.