Switchable Optical Properties of Dyes and Nanoparticles in Electrowetting Devices

Abstract

The optical properties of light-absorbing materials in optical shutter devices are critical to the use of such platforms for optical applications. We demonstrate switchable optical properties of dyes and nanoparticles in liquid-based electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD) devices. Our work uses narrow-band-absorbing dyes and nanoparticles, which are appealing for spectral-filtering applications targeting specific wavelengths while maintaining device transparency at other wavelengths. Low-voltage actuation of boron dipyromethene (BODIPY) dyes and nanoparticles (Ag and CdSe) was demonstrated without degradation of the light-absorbing materials. Three BODIPY dyes were used, namely Abs 503 nm, 535 nm and 560 nm for dye 1 (BODIPY-core), 2 (I2BODIPY) and 3 (BODIPY-TMS), respectively. Reversible and low-voltage (≤20 V) switching of dye optical properties was observed as a function of device pixel dimensions (300 × 900, 200 × 600 and 150 × 450 µm). Low-voltage and reversible switching was also demonstrated for plasmonic and semiconductor nanoparticles, such as CdSe nanotetrapods (abs 508 nm), CdSe nanoplatelets (Abs 461 and 432 nm) and Ag nanoparticles (Abs 430 nm). Nanoparticle-based devices showed minimal hysteresis as well as faster relaxation times. The study presented can thus be extended to a variety of nanomaterials and dyes having the desired optical properties.