METHOD FOR CREATING TOPOGRAPHICAL PATTERNS IN POLYMERS VIA SURFACE ENERGY PATTERNED FILMS AND THE MARANGONI EFFECT

摘要

Using a broadband light source and a photomask, surface energy gradients can be directly transferred into polymer films. The Marangoni effect causes high surface energy regions to rise upon heating the film. This leads to the formation of three-dimensional topography that can be locked in by quenching the polymer by cooling.