Scanning probe lithography on fluid lipid membranes

Scanning probe lithography (SPL) is applied to pattern fluid lipid membranes on a solid borosilicate substrate. Grids of metal lines, prepatterned onto the substrate by electron beam lithography, serve to partition the supported membrane into an array of isolated fluid pixels. By toggling the pH of the surrounding solution, the effect of the probe tip on the membrane can be regulated. Alkaline conditions favor membrane removal, while neutral pH favors membrane deposition. Arbitrary membrane patterns with spatial dimensions limited by the underlying grid size can be constructed by sequential SPL membrane removal followed by refill with a different membrane type. In the present study, bilayers of unique composition fill 1 x 1 mum corrals and were positioned 100 nm apart.     

Directed polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) phase separation and nanoparticle ordering on transparent chemically patterned substrates

We investigate the surface-directed phase separation of spin-coated polystyrene/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PS/PMMA) blends on prepatterned octadecyltrichlorosilane (OTS)-glass substrates under various experimental conditions. As a result of tandem processes of spinodal decomposition and selective wetting of polymer components during spin-coating, low-energy OTS stripes and high-energy glass surfaces laterally arrange the phase-separated polymers according to the chemical pattern on the substrate. Optimal pattern replication was achieved when the length scale of phase separation, controlled via the polymer concentration of the spin-coating solution, matched the smallest feature dimension in a striped chemical pattern possessing two alternating distances between stripes. It was also shown that polymer blend patterns were most closely registered with the underlying substrate when the PS/PMMA composition ratio (30/70, w/w) matched the areal fraction of OTS on the glass surface (～30%). The influence of solvents demonstrated that a solvent with a relatively low volatility, such toluene, was required for patterning so that domain feature sizes were able to coarsen to the size of the patterned features before film vitrification. As well, we showed that the technique and optimized conditions developed in this study could be applied to pattern photoluminescent CdS quantum dots into microscale arrays of parallel lines via spin-coating onto transparent OTS-glass substrates.     

Different growth regimes on prepatterned surfaces: consistent evidence from simulations and experiments

Molecule deposition on a prepatterned substrate is a recently developed technique to generate desired structures of organic molecules on surfaces via self-organization. For the case of prepatterned stripes, the time-resolved process of structure formation is studied via lattice Monte Carlo simulations. By systematic variation of the interaction strength, three distinct growth regimes can be identified: localized growth, bulge formation, and cluster formation. All three growth regimes can be recovered in the experiment when choosing appropriate organic molecules. Some key microscopic observables, reflecting the properties of the structure formation, display a non-monotonous dependence on the interaction strength.     

Nanopatterning of functional materials by gas phase pattern deposition of self-assembled molecular thin films in combination with electrodeposition

We present a general methodology to pattern functional materials on the nanometer scale using self-assembled molecular templates on conducting substrates. A soft lithographic gas phase edge patterning process using poly(dimethylsiloxane) molds was employed to form electrically isolating organosilane patterns of a few nanometer thickness and a line width that could be tuned by varying the time of deposition. Electrodeposition was employed to deposit patterns of Ni and ZnO on these prepatterned substrates. Deposition occurred only on patches of the substrate where no organosilane monolayer was present. The process is simple, inexpensive, and scalable to large areas. We achieved formation of metallic and oxide material patterns with a lateral resolution of 80 nm.     

A Rewritable,Reprogrammable, Dual Light‐Responsive Polymer Actuator

We report on the fabrication of a rewritable and reprogrammable dual‐photoresponsive liquid crystalline‐based actuator containing an azomerocyanine dye that can be locally converted into the hydroxyazopyridinium form by acid treatment. Each dye absorbs at a different wavelength giving access to programmable actuators, the folding of which can be controlled by using different colors of light. The acidic patterning is reversible and allows the erasing and rewriting of patterns in the polymer film, giving access to reusable, adjustable soft actuators.     

A Rewritable,Reprogrammable, Dual Light‐Responsive Polymer Actuator

We report on the fabrication of a rewritable and reprogrammable dual‐photoresponsive liquid crystalline‐based actuator containing an azomerocyanine dye that can be locally converted into the hydroxyazopyridinium form by acid treatment. Each dye absorbs at a different wavelength giving access to programmable actuators, the folding of which can be controlled by using different colors of light. The acidic patterning is reversible and allows the erasing and rewriting of patterns in the polymer film, giving access to reusable, adjustable soft actuators.     

Preparation of an ordered array of cyanine complex microdomes by a simple dewetting method

We demonstrate a simple method for fabricating a two-dimensional array of microdomes that consist of cyanine dye complexes. Investigation of the morphology and the fluorescence emission of microdomes was carried out before/after annealing. The principal of microdome formation is "dewetting," which is a self-organization phenomena. Generally, one can observe dewetting when a liquid film breaks spontaneously on a nonwettable substrate, leaving droplets or patterns on the substrate. A cyanine dye complex was prepared from a cationic cyanine dye and an anionic amphiphile, or vice versa, an anionic dye and a cationic amphiphile. When a chloroform solution of the cyanine complex was spread on a glass substrate by a roller, microdomes of the cyanine dye complex formed in dewetted films. The roller draws the three-phase line (the air-solid-liquid boundary of the droplet of the chloroform solution) with a constant rate. Thus dewetting can be controlled and leads to a two-dimensional ordered array of uniform sized microdomes. The diameter and height of microdomes decrease with increasing roller speed. Fluorescence microscopy shows that the cyanine dye complex formed J-aggregates. Annealing caused transformation of the dome morphology and a change of the fluorescence spectra. The microdome transformed into anisotropic crystals or became amorphous depending on the molecular structure of the cyanine dye.     

Simple and biocompatible micropatterning of multiple cell types on a polymer substrate by using ion implantation

A noncytotoxic procedure for the spatial organization of multiple cell types remains as a major challenge in tissue engineering. In this study, a simple and biocompatible micropatterning method of multiple cell types on a polymer surface is developed by using ion implantation. The cell-resistant Pluronic surface can be converted into a cell-adhesive one by ion implantation. In addition, cells show different behaviors on the ion-implanted Pluronic surface. Thus this process enables the micropatterning of two different cell types on a polymer substrate. The micropatterns of the Pluronic were formed on a polystyrene surface. Primary cells adhered to the spaces of the bare polystyrene regions separated by the implanted Pluronic patterns. Secondary cells then adhered onto the implanted Pluronic patterns, resulting in micropatterns of two different cells on the polystyrene surface.     

Colorimetric molecularly imprinted polymer sensor array using dye displacement

A colorimetric sensor array composed of seven molecularly imprinted polymers was shown to accurately identify seven different aromatic amines. The response patterns were systematically classified using linear discriminant analysis with 94% classification accuracy. Analyses of the response patterns of the analytes to the imprinted polymer array suggest that the different selectivity patterns, although subtle, appear to arise from the imprinting process. The molecular imprinting process enabled the rapid preparation of the polymers in the array from ethylene glycol dimethacrylate and methacrylic acid (80:20) in the presence of six different template molecules plus a blank nonimprinted polymer. The response of the imprinted polymer array was coupled to a colorimetric response, using a dye displacement strategy. A benzofurazan dye was selected and shown to give an accurate measure of the binding properties of the imprinted polymer array to all seven analytes. The colorimetric response also enabled the inclusion of analytes that are not spectroscopically active and were not among the original analytes that were used as template molecules. This broadens the potential utility of the imprinted polymer sensor array strategy to a wider range of analytes and applications.     

Stamping patterns of insulated gold nanowires with self-organized ultrathin polymer films

A thermal contact transfer technique is presented for the fabrication of nanoscaled to microscaled patterns of polymer-insulated metal structures on ceramic surfaces using metal-coated, thermoplastic stamps. The thermally activated formation of polymer-metal-polymer (PMP) heterostructures occurs spontaneously when a metal-coated thermoplastic stamp is compressed against a ceramic substrate and subsequently heated. The presented technique exploits the dynamics of ultrathin polymer films localized at interfaces and interfacial forces to prompt local reorganization of polymer stamp materials during processing. Intercalation of polymer stamp materials into the metal-substrate interface yields a cohesive polymer layer that binds the metal layer to the substrate. Disproportionate adhesion between the bulk polymer and the polymer layer at the stamp-metal interface leaves a capping layer upon separation of the stamp from the substrate. Here we demonstrate this technique with single use, bilevel polymer stamps which afford transfer of two distinct general products. The transfer of insulated submicrometer wide wires from the raised stamp features affords patterns of trilayered PMP structures with uniform wire dimensions. Concomitant transfer from the recessed stamp features allows fabrication of multilayered PMP architectures with sub-100 nm spacing from microstructured polymer stamps. Thus, patterns with two different insulated nanowire widths are readily fabricated in a single stamping process. A variety of ceramic substrates, thermoplastic materials, and metals can be used; e.g., inexpensive gold-coated CD or DVD media can be used as stamps, where the combination of materials dictates the relative interfacial forces and the processing parameters.     

Surface plasmon fluorescence investigation of energy-transfer-controllable organic thin films

Thin functional organic films on a gold substrate were fabricated by adsorbing tetrakis(carboxyphenyl)porphyrin (TCPP) on a spacer layer, which was prepared by the layer-by-layer adsorption of a dendrimer and a linear polymer. The thickness and photoluminescence of the films were investigated by surface plasmon resonance and surface plasmon fluorescence techniques, respectively. TCPP adsorbed on the spacer layer in aqueous solutions of different ionic strengths resulted in a thick TCPP adlayer at high ionic strength and a shrunk spacer layer at low ionic strength. The fluorescence was quenched at high ionic strength but could be observed at low ionic strength. The effects are explained by the states of dye aggregation. This study shows the control of energy transfer from a metal surface to a dye layer by changing the dye adlayer. It can contribute to the development of molecular devices involving energy-transfer systems.     

Modeling of the optical anisotropy of a dye polarizer

A new model has been developed to account for the dependence of the optical anisotropy of a dye polarizer on the dye concentration. The effect of the dye concentration has been studied through an examination of the changes in the orientation distribution of the polymer. The model takes into account the intrinsic optical anisotropy of the dichroic dye, the polymer orientation, the polymer orientation distribution, and the dye orientation with respect to the polymer. It is assumed that (1) the orientation distribution function of the polymer segments can be expressed as an elliptical distribution function and that (2) the free rotation of each dye molecule on its axis is suppressed because of the attraction force between the dye molecules and the polymer chains. The pseudo‐order parameter, which takes into account the aforementioned assumptions, determines the relation between single‐piece transmittance and polarizing efficiency. The orientation distribution of the polymer molecules in the experiment and its effect on the optical performance of a polarizer are quantitatively determined. The model predicts that the effect of the orientation distribution becomes more significant as the polymer chains are oriented more highly. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 40: 1363–1370, 2002     

Local Extraction and Condensation under a Microscope Using the Optically Controlled Phase Separation of a Thermoresponsive Polymer

In‐situ extraction and condensation of various dyes were carried out in a phase‐separation region of a thermoresponsive polymer aqueous solution generated by near infrared (NIR) laser heating under a microscope. The NIR laser irradiation was directed at a chromium line deposited on a glass substrate, thereby causing local heating of the solution due to the photothermal effect. A phase‐separation region was formed by dehydration of the thermoresponsive polymer followed by ejection of water outside of the phase‐separation region. When various dyes were included in the solution, some dye molecules were extracted into the phase‐separation region, where they condensed. In the case of poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM, 10 wt % in an aqueous solution) as the thermoresponsive polymer and crystal violet (CV) as the dye (0.1 mM ), CV condensed by about 25 times. It was found that one of the necessary conditions for the extraction/condensation is the hydrophobicity of the dye molecule; however, the dominant cause for accumulating inside the PNIPAM chain is the molecular interaction between the amide group in the side chain of PNIPAM and the functional groups such as carbonyl or amino groups in the dye molecules.     

Preparation and Properties of Sol–Gel Thin Film Containing Rhodamine B Derivative with Ethoxy Silano Group on Organic Substrate and its Application to Surface-Treatment Thin Film for Display

A thin film containing rhodamine B derivative with ethoxy silano group was formed on organic film substrate using the sol–gel method. Rhodamine B derivative with a triethoxysilano group, SiO₂ sol and acrylic polymer having a triethoxy group were reacted in alcohol to give a coating solution for film formation, followed to be roll-coated on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film and heat-treated at 130°C. This thin film consists of inorganic polymer (SiO₂), organic polymer (acrylic resin) and organic dye. These component parts become interconnected through mutual chemical bonding. This thin film has an absorption peak at 578 nm and superb water resistant characteristics (almost no dye elution in 50°C water for 150 min) as a result of chemical bonding between the organic dye and the matrix skeleton. It also has good flexibility. The film can be used as a wavelength-selective absorption film for displays to improve contrast.     

Maskless fabrication of polythiophene patterns by photochemical conversion of regioselectively condensed 2,5-diiodothiophene

Maskless fabrication of periodic patterns of a conjugated polymer is achieved by regioselective condensation of 2,5-diiodothiophene on chemically patterned substrate surfaces followed by in situ photochemical conversion of the condensed molecules into oligothiophenes and polythiophenes. This approach utilizes preferential aggregation of monomer molecules on the substrate that is periodically patterned with wetting regions surrounded by nonwetting regions. Since the monomer molecules are confined in the specific regions on the substrate, the polymer patterns can be produced at those locations by blanket irradiation of UV light without mask. The effects of wettability contrast and the dimension of periodicity are important factors for good pattern recognition during the monomer deposition.     

Selective recognition and discrimination of water‐soluble azo dyes by a seven‐channel molecularly imprinted polymer sensor array

A seven‐channel molecularly imprinted polymer sensor array was prepared and characterized by scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV‐Vis spectroscopy, and nitrogen physisorption studies. The results revealed that the imprinted polymers have distinct‐binding affinities from those of structurally similar azo dyes. Analysis of the UV‐Vis spectral response patterns of the seven dye analytes against the imprinted polymer array suggested that the different selectivity patterns of the array were closely connected to the imprinting process. To evaluate the effectiveness of the array format, the binding of a series of analytes was individually measured for each of the seven polymers, made with different templates (including one control polymer synthesized without the use of a template). The response patterns of the array to the selected azo dyes were processed by canonical discriminant analysis. The results showed that the molecularly imprinted array was able to discriminate each analyte with 100% accuracy. Moreover, the azo dyes in two real samples, spiked chrysoidin in smoked bean curd extract and Fanta lime soda (containing tartrazine), were successfully classified by the array.     

三维有序多孔图案化SiC陶瓷的制备

结合毛细管微模塑技术、模板技术和先驱体转化技术, 以图案化聚二甲基硅氧烷(PDMS)弹性体为模具,以氧化硅凝胶小球为模板, 以液态聚碳硅烷(PCS)为先驱体, 经过氧化硅凝胶小球图案化模板的形成, 先驱体的渗入, 模板中先驱体的交联, 弹性模具的去除, 图案化先驱体的无机化和模板的去除, 制备了图案化多孔SiC 陶瓷.研究结果表明：所制备的图案化多孔陶瓷中, 图案的尺寸受图案化PDMS 弹性模具的控制, 球形孔的孔径可由氧化硅凝胶小球来调节. 图案化陶瓷中球形孔不仅三维有序排列, 而且由于模板中小球的相互接触形成的“窗 口”使球形孔三维贯通.     

Controlled nanoparticle assembly by dewetting of charged polymer solutions

In this paper, we present an alternative approach for controlled nanoparticle organization on a solid substrate by applying dewetting patterns of charged polymer solutions as a templating system. Thin films of charged polymer solutions dewet a solid substrate to form complex dewetting patterns that depend on the polymer charge density. These patterns, ranging from polygonal networks to elongated structures that are stabilized by viscous forces during dewetting, serve as potential templates for two-dimensional nanoparticle organization on a solid substrate. Thus, while nanoparticles dried in pure water undergo self-assembly to form close-packed arrays, addition of charged polymer in the dispersion leads to the formation of open structures that are directed by the dewetting patterns of the polymer solution. In this study, we focus on the application of elongated structures resulting from dewetting of high-charge-density polymer solutions to align nanoparticles of silica and gold into long chains that are several micrometers in length. The particle ordering process is a two-step mechanism: an initial confinement of the nanoparticles in the dewetting structures and self-assembly of the particles within these structures upon further drying by lateral capillary attractions.     

Enhanced ordering in gold nanoparticles self-assembly through excess free ligands

Self-assembly of nanometer-sized particles is an elegant and economical approach to achieve dense patterns over large areas beyond the resolution and throughput capabilities of electron-beam lithography. In this paper, we present results of self-assembly of oleylamine-capped gold nanoparticles with 8.0 ± 0.3 nm diameter into densely packed and well-ordered monolayers with center-to-center distance of ～11 nm. Self-assembly was done in a Langmuir-Blodgett trough and picked up onto Si substrates. The nanoparticles undesirably assembled within micrometer-sized "droplets" that were organic in nature. However, within these droplets, we observed that the addition of the excess ligand, oleylamine, drastically enhanced the self-assembly of the nanoparticles into monolayers with near-perfect ordering. This approach has the potential use in templated self-assembly of nanoparticles for rearranging poorly ordered assembly into a commensurate prepatterned substrate.