| Author(s): |
Muruganathan Ramanathan; Bradley S. Lokitz; Jamie M. Messman; Christopher M. Stafford; S. M. Kilbey; |
| Title: |
Spontaneous wrinkling in azlactone-based functional polymer thin films in 2d and 3d geometries for guided nanopatterning |
| Published: |
February 04, 2013 |
| Abstract: |
We report a simple, one step process for developing wrinkling patterns in azlactone-based polymer thin films and brushes in 2D and 3D surfaces. The polymer used in this work wrinkles spontaneously upon deposition and solidification on a substrate without applying any external strain to the substrate, with the mode of deposition defining the direction of the wrinkles. Wrinkle formation is shown to occur on a variety of substrates over large areas. We also find that a very thin brush-like layer of an azlactone-containing block copolymer also exhibits wrinkled topology. Given the spontaneity and versatility of wrinkle formation, we further demonstrate two proofs-of-concept, i) that these periodic wrinkled structures are not limited to planar surfaces, but are also developed in complex geometries including tubes, cones and other 3D structures; and ii) that this one-step wrinkling process can be used to guide the deposition of metal nanoparticles and quantum dots, creating a periodic, nanopatterned film. |
| Citation: |
Journal of Materials Chemistry |
| Volume: |
1 |
| Issue: |
11 |
| Pages: |
pp. 2097 - 2101 |
| Keywords: |
wrinkling; thin films; nanoparticles; polymers; nanopatterning |
| Research Areas: |
Polymers, Thin-Films, Nanomaterials, Materials Science |
