Self‐Organization via Dewetting in Polymeric Assemblies

Abstract

AbstractDewetting is a spontaneous process involving a thin liquid film that minimizes interfacial energy by reducing the surface area via the generation of defects on the film. In industry, dewetting is regarded as a problem that results in defects or a heterogeneous surface; however, in this study, dewetting is intentionally induced to create various patterns at intended positions spontaneously with polymeric materials and nanoparticles. The dewetting‐induced patterning process is conducted by controlling the capillary force and evaporation ratio through an evaporative self‐assembly system. The linear‐polymeric arrays on the substrate played an important role in modifying the surface geometry and treatment for a heterogeneous surface, and an additional patterning process is performed on patterned arrays to create dewetting‐induced self‐organizing patterns. Here, this method is used to introduce material arrays with specific shapes such as dots, dumbbells, potbellies, Vs, and trapezoids.