Development of Cyclic Tetrasiloxane Polymer as a High-Performance Dielectric and Hydrophobic Layer for Electrowetting Displays

Cyclic tetrasiloxane polymer (CTP) has recently garnered interest as a hydrophobic material with unique properties. This study aims to enhance the dielectric constant of CTP films by introducing excess Si–H groups and to explore the impact of synthesis and processing conditions on the resulting properties. The film demonstrates high hydrophobicity, with contact angles of 107° in air and 165° in n-decane, along with a notable dielectric constant of 5.1°. Furthermore, the CTP film displays reversible electrowetting behavior with low contact angle hysteresis (2°) and possesses good transparency (∼99%) and thermal stability. As such, the CTP film has significant potential as a material for the electric wetting of hydrophobic dielectric layers and may serve as a promising alternative in electrowetting applications.