Oil droplet manipulation using liquid dielectrophoresis on electret with superlyophobic surfaces

We propose a novel low-voltage droplet manipulation method “liquid dielectrophoresis on electret (L-DEPOE)” with superlyophobic surfaces (SLS), which enable high contact angle and low flow friction for water and oil. Charge stability of electret in liquid is much improved with new polymer coating, and SLS with electrodes are successfully fabricated, showing high mechanical robustness and extreme repellence for hexadecane droplets even with fast droplet motion. Low adhesion and contact angle hysteresis of SLS for oil droplets are experimentally demonstrated, indicating low motion resistance of droplet on SLS.