Sub-minute formation of supported nanoporous mesoscale patterns programmed by surface energy.

ABSTRACT: We demonstrate an original and powerful concept for elaborating spontaneous, high fidelity patterns of nanoporosity from nanoscale building blocks using patterned surface chemistry (i.e., "surface energy gating") to corral the growth of colloidal structures at a solid surface. Composite films consisting of polymethylsilsesquioxane nanoparticles uniformly dispersed in polypropylene glycol polymer were examined at temperatures beyond the decomposition of the polymer as a function of the substrate surface energy to clarify nanoparticulate ensemble behavior. The principle behind this colloidal assembly can be understood by taking into consideration the entropy and enthalpy dictating the mutual interactions between substrate surface, polymeric solvent, and dispersed colloids in the decompositio

SUBMITTER: Korampally V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3196777 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature