The Experimental Investigation on Micropatterning of Blended and Random Copolymer Thin Films

Abstract

Micro/nano structures are ubiquitous in nature. These patterns not only exhibit aesthetic appeal but are engineered to perform multiple functions. For example, alternating hydrophobic/hydrophilic domains on the body of Stenocara beetles provides excellent mechanism for dew harvesting. Likewise super-hydrophobic property of lotus leaves is due to the presence of hierarchical structures on the surface of leaves. Another example includes, hierarchical structures on butterfly wings responsible for absorbing specific wavelength of light while emitting other, thereby exhibiting exquisite colours. These micro/nano structures found in nature are made up of bio-macromolecules like proteins. Alternately scientists across the globe are inspired to fabricate artificial micro/nano structures using polymers which can be utilize to alter the attributes of the surface. These attributes include wetting behaviour, self-cleaning property, structural colours etc. Numerous methods have been employed to fabricate highly ordered polymeric domains over a surface (direct write lithographic method, soft-lithographic methods and self-assembly based patterning methods etc).