Wettability patterning of lithium niobate substrate by modulating pyroelectric effect to form microarray of sessile droplets

The wettability of lithium niobate crystals was patterned by inducing the pyroelectric effect onto domain engineered samples. Compared to conventional electrowetting experiments, this technique allows one to obtain wettability patterning by an electrodeless configuration. In fact, the surface charges inducing the effect were generated pyroelectrically and spatially modulated by the domain grating. A microarray of sessile droplets was obtained on a single chip. Results and physical interpretation of the phenomena are reported and discussed. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.