Multicomponent surface materials: subsequent surface structuring and deposition

Abstract

The surface properties of materials can be modified by tailoring the topography and chemical composition. Functional surfaces with desirable properties have been produced by precisely controlled surface structures and chemical composition at the micro-nanometer scale. Until now, the challenge has been the ability to manipulate surface morphology and chemistry at the micro-millimeter scale. This work presents a new surface modification method capable of permitting subsequent structuring and material deposition. A micro tip patterning technique is based on sharp metal tips that are used for modifying the topography and chemistry of various material surfaces at the micro-millimeter scale. The method is appropriate for characterizing different topographies by probing conductive material surfaces with a needle tip, which permits a precisely controlled surface structuring with continuous 3D profiles. The desired locations of the scanned surface can be chemically modified by delivering materials via the needle tip. The method is appropriate for the multi-object placement of numerous substances such as functional reagents and biological components in a complex microenvironment. The accurate structuring of complex 3D surface topographies and subsequent chemical deposition provides a precisely controlled functionalization of material surface properties suitable for different applications.