Periodic nano/microstructures can be printed on glass using a simple technique
A team of researchers from NIMS and the University of Connecticut has developed a printing technique that can form periodic nano/microstructures on the surface of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) slabs and easily transfer them to the surface of glass substrates.
This technology allows the creation of materials with useful features such as water repellency and the ability to produce structural color without the need for expensive equipment or complex processes. Additionally, this technology can also be used to produce materials that can achieve anti-fog properties and/or the generation of structural colors on their surfaces, features that are potentially useful for the development of innovative gas sensors.
The paper will be published in the journal Advanced Science.
Periodic nano/microstructures have been the focus of research and development in materials science due to their diverse functional properties. However, producing them using traditional techniques requires a long process that requires the use of large and expensive equipment. Furthermore, these techniques are not suitable for creating periodic nano/microstructures over large surface areas.
Although this can be achieved using existing printing techniques, suitable inks for the formation of periodic nano/microstructures and methods for refilling them are still under investigation. Therefore, a simple technique to fabricate periodic nano/microstructures was highly needed.
This research team has recently developed a simple and reproducible technique to print periodic nano/microstructures on glass substrate surfaces using PDMS slabs. PDMS slabs contain liquid PDMS, which acts as an ink when leached from the surface of the slab. The slab can form a periodic wrinkle structure on its surface. This is transferred to the glass surface by contacting the PDMS slab with the glass surface and removing it, leaving behind periodic nano/microstructures.
In addition to winkle structures such as columnar and corrugated structures, other types of periodic nano/microstructures can be printed on the surface of glass substrates. Additionally, other materials (e.g., silicone oil or silica nanoparticles) can be dispersed into liquid PDMS, and the resulting periodic nano/microstructures have desirable properties for various purposes.
Using this newly developed printing technology, the research team aims to meet societal demands by achieving anti-fog properties on surfaces and the generation of structural colors, features that are potentially useful in the development of innovative gas sensors. We would like to create periodic nano/microstructures that can be used to meet the This technology can also be used to produce superhydrophobic and superoleophobic surfaces and materials that can help recover water from the atmosphere.
To achieve these goals, the team first plans to optimize experimental conditions that can produce various forms of printable periodic nano/microstructures.
Further information: Kota Shiba et al., Syneresis-Driven Self-Refilling Printing of Geometry/Component-Controlled Nano/Micro Structures, Advanced Science (2024). DOI: 10.1002/advs.202405151
Provided by National Institute for Materials Science
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