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Laplace barriers for electrowetting thredsholding and virtual fluid confinement

Description:

Reported are Laplace barriers consisting of arrayed posts or ridges that impart 100 to 1000 s of N/m^2 Laplace pressure for fluid confinement, but the Laplace pressure is also small enough such that the barriers are porous to electrowetting control. As a result, the barriers are able to provide electrowetting flow thresholding and virtual fluid confinement in noncircular fluid geometries. A simple theoretical model for the barriers and experimental demonstrations validate functionality that may be useful for lab-on-chip, display devices, and passive matrix control, to name a few applications.