Pixel structure for electrowetting display devices and method of manufacturing the same

An electrowetting display device comprising:

• a first display substrate including a first base substrate and a pixel unit disposed on the first base substrate, wherein the pixel unit has a pixel structure comprising:
• a gate line extending adjacent to and parallel with a lower portion of the pixel unit and having a protrusion,
• a storage capacitor first electrode spaced apart from the gate line, wherein the storage capacitor first electrode has an electrode which has a plurality of branches extending radially from a center of the pixel unit,
• a first insulating layer disposed on the gate line including the protrusion and on the storage capacitor first electrode,
• a data line disposed on the first insulating layer, wherein the data line is adjacent to and parallel with a corner of the pixel unit and perpendicular to the gate line,
• a source electrode disposed on the first insulating layer and the active layer and protruding from the data line along the gate line,
• a drain electrode disposed on the active layer and spaced apart from the source electrode,
• a storage capacitor second electrode disposed on the storage capacitor first electrode with the first insulating layer interposed therebetween, wherein the drain electrode has an end connected to the storage capacitor second electrode and wherein the storage capacitor second electrode includes an electrode having a plurality of radially extending branches which are connected to one another,
• a second insulating layer covering the source electrode and the drain electrode,
• an organic film disposed on the second insulating layer,
• a first contact hole disposed in the second insulating layer and the organic film exposing a surface of the drain electrode,
• a second contact hole disposed in the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer and the organic film exposing a surface of the storage capacitor first electrode,
• a pixel electrode disposed on an upper surface of the organic film and electrically connected to the drain electrode through the first contact hole,
• an isolation electrode disposed on the upper surface of the organic film and electrically connected to the storage capacitor first electrode through the second contact hole and wherein the isolation electrode is electrically separated from the pixel electrode;
• a third insulating layer disposed on the pixel electrode and the isolation electrode,
• a water repellant layer disposed on the third insulating layer, and
• a plurality of walls disposed on the water repellant layer at corners of the pixel unit;
• a second display substrate including a second base substrate facing the first display substrate;
• and
• a fluid layer filing a space between the first and second display substrates.

A method for manufacturing an electrowetting display device, comprising:

• forming a gate line, a storage capacitor first electrode and a first insulating layer on a first base substrate of a first display substrate, wherein the storage capacitor first electrode includes an electrode having a plurality of radially extending branches;
• forming an active layer on the first insulating layer and the gate line;
• forming a data line, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a storage capacitor second electrode on the first insulating layer and the active layer, wherein the storage capacitor second electrode includes an electrode having a plurality of radially extending branches;
• forming a second insulating layer on the first base substrate including on the data line;
• forming an organic film on the second insulating layer;
• partially removing the second insulating layer and the organic film from the first base substrate to form a first contact hole which exposes the drain electrode;
• partially removing the first insulating layer, the second insulating layer and the organic film from the first base substrate to form a second contact hole which exposes the storage capacitor first electrode;
• forming a conductive layer on the drain electrode, lateral walls of the first and second contact holes, an upper surface of the organic film, and on the storage capacitor first electrode;
• removing a portion of the conductive layer disposed on the upper surface of the organic film to thereby form a pixel electrode on the upper surface of the organic film which is electrically connected to the drain electrode through the first contact hole, an isolation electrode on the upper surface of the organic film which is electrically connected to the storage capacitor first electrode through the second contact hole, and a separation area defined in between the pixel electrode and the isolation electrode on the upper surface of the organic film which electrically separates the pixel electrode and the isolation electrode from each other;
• forming a third insulating layer on the first base substrate including on the pixel electrode and the isolation electrode;
• forming a water-repellant layer on the third insulating layer;
• forming a plurality of walls on the water-repellant layer;
• and
• providing a second display substrate including a second base substrate disposed facing the first display substrate.