Berlin 2012 – scientific programme
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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik
CPP 28: Colloids and Complex Liquids I
CPP 28.4: Talk
Wednesday, March 28, 2012, 16:00–16:15, C 130
Guided self-assembly of microgels: From particle arrays to anisotropic nanostructures — •Marco-Philipp Schürings1, Patrick Wünnemann1, Stephanie Hiltl1, Andrij Pich2, and Alexander Böker1 — 1Lehrstuhl für Makromolekulare Materialien und Oberflächen RWTH Aachen, D-52056 Aachen, Germany — 2Lehrstuhl für Funktionale und Interaktive Polymere, RWTH Aachen, D-52056 Aachen, Germany
Our work aims at the production of microgel strings, rods and meshes via crosslinking of well-defined particle arrays. Wrinkled substrates are prepared by oxidization of stretched Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). Subsequently, microgels of N-vinyl caprolactam/Acetoacetoxy ethylmethacrylate (VCL/AAEM) and N-isopropylacrylamide/N-vinyl-caprolactam (NIPAAm/VCL) are spin-coated onto these surfaces thereby forming self-assembled structures within the wrinkle grooves. We consequently transfer those pre-aligned particles onto flat silicon wafers to create periodic nanostructures covering large surface areas up to 3 x 3 cm, as confirmed by GISAXS measurements. UV irradiation of the assembled particles yields microgel chains with variable widths of 500- 2000 nm and lengths up to 27 microns which are tunable by altering the wavelength of the PDMS wrinkles. Due to the thermo-responsiveness of VCL/AAEM colloids anisotropic contraction can be induced, which leads to possible applications as sensors and actuators. By using light or electrosensitive microgels and considering their biocompatibility even more applications, such as synthetic muscle fibers, appear feasible.