la0633942_si_002.pdf (1.27 MB)
Rigiflex, Spontaneously Wettable Polymeric Mold for Forming Reversibly Bonded Nanocapillaries
journal contribution
posted on 2007-04-10, 00:00 authored by Pilnam Kim, Kahp Y. SuhWe present a novel ultraviolet (UV)-curable mold that enables the formation of reversibly bonded nanocapillaries
(500−50 nm) on a gold or silicon substrate. A sheet-type (∼50 μm) polyethylene diacrylate (PEG-DA) mold was
used for its rigiflex nature; it provides rigidity high enough for maintaining nanostructures (elastic modulus >70 MPa)
and also flexibility good enough for intimate contact over a large area aided by weak electrostatic forces (zeta potential
≈ −113.55 mW). The electrostatic charge is generated on a rigiflex PEG-DA mold upon peeling from an original
engraved silicon master by mechanical friction, thereby assisting the formation of spontaneous contact with the gold
or silicon substrate.