Dielectric-free electrowetting on graphene

Abstract

Electrowetting is a simple way to induce the spreading and retraction of electrolyte droplets. This method is widely used in “device” applications, where a dielectric layer is applied between the electrolyte and the conducting substrate. Recent work, including contributions from our own laboratory, have shown that reversible electrowetting can be achieved directly on conductors. We have shown that graphite surfaces, in particular when combined with highly concentrated electrolyte solutions, show a strong wetting effect. The process is driven by the interactions between the electrolyte ions and the surface, hence models of double-layer capacitance are able to explain changes in the equilibrium contact angles. Herein, we extend the approach to the investigation of electrowetting on graphene samples of varying thickness, prepared by chemical vapor deposition. We show that the use of highly concentrated aqueous electrolytes induces a clear yet subtle electrowetting response due to the adsorption of ions and the suppression of the negative effect introduced by the surface impurities accumulating during the transfer process. The latter have been previously reported to fully hinder electrowetting at lower electrolyte concentrations. An amplified wetting response is recorded in the presence of strongly adsorbed/intercalated anions in both aqueous and non-aqueous electrolytes. The phenomenon is interpreted based on the anion–graphene interactions and their influence on the energetics of the interface. By monitoring the dynamics of wetting, an irreversible behaviour is identified in all cases as a consequence of the irreversibility of anion adsorption and/or intercalation. Finally, the effect of the underlying reactions on the timescales of wetting is also examined.