Facile formation of nanoparticle patterns by water induced flow of a polymer thin film

Abstract

In general, techniques of particle arrays on polyelectrolyte multilayers involve complex and inefficient steps. Here, we present a simple yet robust method for fabricating ordered two-dimensional nanoparticle arrays on polyelectrolyte multilayers via water induced flow of multilayer films. The process is easy and repeatable without the requirement of complicated surface preparation or chemical modification. By droplet evaporation of silica or other functional nanoparticle solutions on a patterned PDMS stamp, nanoparticle arrays on polyelectrolyte multilayer film surfaces will occur when the PDMS stamp contacts with polyelectrolyte multilayers. This work provides a facile and efficient approach to fabricate colloidal nanoparticle or other functional nanoparticle arrays on polyelectrolyte multilayers which are potentially useful for sensor materials, biomaterials and so on.