US Patent 9714463 Coatings for electrowetting and electrofluidic devices

Electrowetting devices coated with one or more polymeric layers and methods of making and using thereof are described herein. The coatings may be formed in a single layer or as multiple layers. In one embodiment the first layer deposited serves as an insulating layer of high dielectric strength while the second layer deposited serves as a hydrophobic layer of low surface energy. These materials may themselves be deposited as multiple layers to eliminate pinhole defects and maximize device yield. In one embodiment the insulating layer would be a vapor deposited silicone polymeric material including, but not limited to, polytrivinyltrimethylcyclotrisiloxane or polyHVDS. In another embodiment the insulating layer may be a vapor deposited ceramic such as SiO2 with very little carbon content. In a further embodiment the insulating layer may be composed of alternating layers of a siloxane material and a ceramic material.