High-resolution patterning of solution-processable materials via externally engineered pinning of capillary bridges.

ABSTRACT: Electronics based on solution-processable materials are promising for applications in many fields which stimulated enormous research interest in liquid-drying and pattern formation. However, assembling of structure with submicrometre/nanometre resolution through liquid process is very challenging. We show a simple method to rapidly generate polymer structures with deep-submicrometre-sized features over large areas. In this method, a solution film is dried on a substrate under a suspended flexible template with groove/ridge surface topography. Upon solvent evaporation, the solution splits in the grooves and forms capillary bridges between the template and substrate, which are firmly pinned by the edges of the template grooves. This groove pinning stabilizes the contact lines, thereby allowi

SUBMITTER: Li S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5786051 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature