Polymer relief microstructures by inkjet etching

de Gans, Berend-Jan; Höppener, Stephanie; Schubert, Ulrich S.

Abstract:

Inkjet etching can create a variety of structures in polymer films, such as (arrays of) holes or grooves. These form by dissolution where a solvent droplet hits the film, followed by droplet evaporation and polymer redeposition at its pinned contact line. The hole radius, R, scales with the total number of droplets printed at a spot, Ndr, as R3 (NdrVdr)0.34. The width of a groove, D, scales with the total number of drops per unit length Ndr/L as D 3 (Ndr/L)0.56. Theory predicts an exponent of M and K, respectively. Possible applications of inkjet etching are in the field of rapid prototyping. Proof of principle for possible electronic applications is given by creating a patterned Cr/Au-bilayer. Printing a dispersion creates polymer composite structures with encapsulated nanoparticles, as shown by SFM.

Year:

2007

Type of Publication:

Article

Journal:

Journal of Materials Chemistry

Volume:

17

Pages:

3045 - 3050