Abstract
In contrast to convective self-assembly methods for colloidal crystals etc., “convective meniscus splitting method” was developed to fabricate three-dimensionally ordered polymeric structures. By controlling the geometry of evaporative interface of polymer solution, a deposited membrane with uniaxial orientation and layered structures can be prepared. Here it is demonstrated that xanthan gum polysaccharide microparticles with diameter ~ 1 µm can bridge a millimeter-scale gap to form such a membrane because the capillary force among the particles is more dominant than the gravitational force on the evaporative interface. This method is applicable for various substrates with a wide range of wettability (water contact angle, 11°–111°), such as glass, metals, and plastics. The specific deposition can be also confirmed between frosted glasses, functional-molecules-modified glasses, and gold-sputtered substrates. By using such a universal method, the membrane formed on a polydimethylsiloxane surface using this method will provide a new strategy to design a functional polysaccharide wall in microfluidic devices, such as mass-separators.
Highlights
In contrast to convective self-assembly methods for colloidal crystals etc., “convective meniscus splitting method” was developed to fabricate three-dimensionally ordered polymeric structures
This technique appears applicable to various types of viscous polymer solutions, among which liquid crystalline (LC) polysaccharides were chosen to orient the self-assembled structures on the evaporative interface[19]
The capillary force typically acts within the effective distance from a plane substrate; it is dominant for liquids between two walls separated by a 1-mm gap rather than the gravitational force[23]
Summary
In contrast to convective self-assembly methods for colloidal crystals etc., “convective meniscus splitting method” was developed to fabricate three-dimensionally ordered polymeric structures. It is demonstrated that xanthan gum polysaccharide microparticles with diameter ~ 1 μm can bridge a millimeter-scale gap to form such a membrane because the capillary force among the particles is more dominant than the gravitational force on the evaporative interface This method is applicable for various substrates with a wide range of wettability (water contact angle, 11°–111°), such as glass, metals, and plastics. The polymeric membrane bridged the gap does not have different two sides because both sides are prepared from evaporative air–liquid interface This technique appears applicable to various types of viscous polymer solutions, among which liquid crystalline (LC) polysaccharides were chosen to orient the self-assembled structures on the evaporative interface[19]. Meniscus splitting is tested on various substrate materials, such as glass with/without functional-molecules-modification, metals, and plastics with a wide range of wettability, by checking the initial adsorption on these substrates
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