Controlling Pattern Formation in Nanoparticle Assemblies via Directed Solvent Dewetting

Martin, CP; Blunt, MO; Pauliac-Vaujour, E; Stannard, A; Moriarty, P; Vancea, I; Thiele, U

Abstract

We have achieved highly localised control of pattern formation in two dimensional nanoparticle assemblies by direct modification of solvent dewetting dynamics. A striking dependence of nanoparticle organisation on the size of atomic force microscope-generated surface heterogeneities is observed and reproduced in numerical simulations. Nanoscale features induce rupture of the solvent-nanoparticle film, causing the local flow of solvent to carry nanoparticles into confinement. Microscale heterogeneities instead slow the evaporation of the solvent, producing a remarkably abrupt interface
between different nanoparticle patterns.

Citation

Martin, C., Blunt, M., Pauliac-Vaujour, E., Stannard, A., Moriarty, P., Vancea, I., & Thiele, U. (2007). Controlling Pattern Formation in Nanoparticle Assemblies via Directed Solvent Dewetting. Physical Review Letters, 99,

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2007
• Deposit Date: Jun 5, 2008
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 5, 2008
• Journal: Physical Review Letters
• Print ISSN: 0031-9007
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 99
• Keywords: nanoparticles; self-assembly; self-organisation; dewetting; nanostructures; pattern formation
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1016597
• Publisher URL: http://scitation.aip.org
• Related Public URLs: http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/physics/research/nano
• Additional Information: Copyright of American Physical Society