A team of researchers has developed a printing method that is capable of easily transferring periodic nano/microstructure onto the surface of a glass substrate using polydimethylsiloxane ( PDMS ) slab. Without the use of expensive equipment and sophisticated procedures, this method allows us to create materials with helpful functions, including the ability to generate architectural colors and water-repellency. Additionally, the strategy can be applied to create elements with the ability to create architectural colors on their edges, which could aid in the creation of novel oil cameras.
A team of researchers from NIMS and the University of Connecticut has developed a printing method that is capable of easily transferring regular nano/microstructure onto the floor of a crystal surface. Without the use of expensive equipment and sophisticated procedures, this method allows us to create materials with beneficial functions, including the ability to generate architectural colors and water-repellency. Additionally, the strategy can be applied to create elements with the ability to create architectural colors on their edges, which could aid in the creation of novel oil cameras.
Regular nano/microstructures have long been a target of materials technology research and development because of their varied practical abilities. Manufacturing them using normal techniques is, nevertheless, a long process demanding the use of big, expensive equipment. Additionally, these methods are inappropriate for building frequent nano- or microstructures over large surface areas. Even though the current printing technology allows for this, regular nano/microstructure formation paints and refilling techniques are still being looked into. Hence, it was extremely difficult to find a straightforward method for creating regular nano/microstructures.
This research team has created a simple, reproducible method for using a PDMS block to print monthly nano/microstructures onto a surface of glass. When wet PDMS is exuded from a PDMS block, it acts as paint when it is exuded from the area. On top of the slab, the slab forms a regular, wrinkled framework. The regular nano/microstructure can then be left behind by removing the PDMS block by coming into contact with the glass floor and then transferring it to the glass surface. In addition to winkle structures like columnar and flowing structures, additional different regular nano/microstructures may be printed on the surface of glass. Moreover, other substances ( e. g., silicone oils and silica nanoparticles ) can be dispersed in liquid PDMS, allowing the resulting periodic nano/microstructures to have properties desirable for a variety of intended purposes.
The group hopes to develop regular nano/microstructures using this recently developed stamping technique to achieve social demands by recognizing anti-fogging or generating architectural colours on their surfaces, which could aid in the development of novel gasoline sensors. Superhydrophobic and superoleophobic supplies and materials that are useful for capturing ambient water could also be made using this method. The group first intends to improve the empirical conditions under which it can create various types of printable regular nano/microstructures in order to accomplish these objectives.
