The switching time is important factor for enhancing performance of electrowetting-based devices, such as electronic display, liquid lens, and RF switches. These devices require fast spreading, receding time of droplet. In this work, we suggested an analytical method to predict the switching time. We considered the case of a liquid droplet on an insulator-coated electrode surrounded by air. The properties of droplet such as volume, density, viscosity, and interfacial tension affects the switching time. First we explored the influence of drop volume on switching time. To predict the switching time, the dynamics of a droplet are modeled by using the domain perturbation method. It is shown that the overall dynamics is governed by P2 shape mode. Based on theoretical analysis, we introduced a parameter which represents the switching time. We compared the theoretical prediction with experimental results, and then discussed the effect of contact-line hysteresis.

This content is only available via PDF.
You do not currently have access to this content.