  The inter-connection between the elasticity of a dielectric film and the
wetting of a sessile drop on the same, under an applied electrical voltage,
remains unaddressed. Here, we report the electrowetting-on-dielectric (EWOD)
behaviour of sessile drops on dielectric elastomer films of varying
elasticities- from an apparently rigid dielectric film to a soft, deformable
dielectric film. Our results reveal that the elasticity of the underlying
dielectric film provides an additional control over the droplet electrowetting
behaviour, which may be best addressed from free energy based consideration,
leading to a modification of the classical Lippman-Young paradigm. We also
provide an explanation on the displacement profiles for the deformation of the
soft dielectric surface, due to the interfacial electro-elastocapillary
interaction triggered by the electrowetted sessile droplet. These results can
be of profound importance in various emerging applications, ranging from the
development of soft liquid lenses to drug delivery.
