Tunable 3D and 2D polystyrene nanoparticle assemblies using surface wettability, low volume fraction and surfactant effects

Abstract

Polymer-based nanopatterning on metal surfaces is of increasing importance to a number of applications, including biosensors, bioelectronic devices and medical implants. Here we show that polycrystalline gold surfaces can be functionalized with monocomponent nanoparticle (NP) assemblies by a simple drop deposition method. Ordered 3D hexagonal close-packed structures consisting of 350 nm polystyrene (PS) NPs on hydrophobically modified gold surfaces from solutions of very low volume fraction (varphi = 0.0006) were obtained as a result of capillary force induced self-assembly, whilst 2D self-assembly of PS NPs was generated over large area on hydrophilic gold and TiO(2) surfaces by spin coating. Furthermore, we show that when Triton X-100 is added to the PS NP suspending medium longer range ordering is obtained. Our observations may initiate interesting applications in the areas of nanoengineering of metal-based sensors and as a means to design new nanostructures for biocompatible implant surfaces.

Influence of nanoscale surface topography on protein adsorption and cellular response

“…For example, self-assembly of colloidal particles, controlled either by electrostatic interactions of the colloidal particles or by a simple close-packing of these particles [13][14][15], are promising techniques which have attracted considerable interest in recent years. Hexagonally closed-packed arrays of colloidal particles covering domains up to 100 m 2 have been fabricated, while even larger uniform areas are achievable by means of electrostatic self-assembly of colloidal particles.…”

Experimental Design Applied to Spin Coating of 2D Colloidal Crystal Masks: A Relevant Method?

“…However, as described by Prevo et al the evaporation rate must be increased accordingly to avoid the formation of multilayers. Moreover, the modification of suspension composition is known to impact significantly the wetting of the substrate, which is a key point in the early stages of the process. , Consequently, such a modification of solution would imply a complete revision of spin coating parameters. For example, Prevo et al report monolayers of nanospheres obtained by convective assembly from highly concentrated suspensions, up to 30 vol %.…”

Superhydrophilic Coating of Pine Wood by Plasma Functionalization of Self-Assembled Polystyrene Spheres

“…The thickness of these films can be controlled between monolayers and several microns by varying the deposition parameters [3,4]. It has been found that monodisperse colloidal spheres are especially useful to deposit self-assembled films, sometimes enhanced by surfactants [5]. Such self-assembled films offer a great potential for many manufacturing methods due to their periodicity or crystallinity, and they are often referred to as nanosphere lithography or colloidal lithography [6].…”