Spontaneous wrinkling in azlactone-based functional polymer thin films in 2d and 3d geometries for guided nanopatterning

Published

February 4, 2013

Author(s)

Muruganathan Ramanathan, Bradley S. Lokitz, Jamie M. Messman, Christopher Stafford, S. M. Kilbey

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

Pub Type

Journals

Keywords

wrinkling, thin films, nanoparticles, polymers, nanopatterning

Citation

Ramanathan, M. , Lokitz, B. , Messman, J. , Stafford, C. and Kilbey, S. (2013), Spontaneous wrinkling in azlactone-based functional polymer thin films in 2d and 3d geometries for guided nanopatterning, Journal of Materials Chemistry (Accessed October 20, 2025)