Fabrication of Micropatterned Self‐Oscillating Polymer Brush for Direction Control of Chemical Waves. Issue 21 (6th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Homma, Kenta; Masuda, Tsukuru; Akimoto, Aya Mizutani; Nagase, Kenichi; Itoga, Kazuyoshi; Okano, Teruo; Yoshida, Ryo
• Is Part Of: Small. Volume 13:Issue 21(2017)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2017-04-06
• Subjects: chemical waves -- oscillating chemical reaction -- photolithography -- polymer brushes -- surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization; Nanotechnology -- Periodicals; Nanoparticles -- Periodicals; Microtechnology -- Periodicals; 620.5
• DOI: 10.1002/smll.201700041
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1613-6810

Abstract

Abstract : The propagation control of chemical waves via a pentagonal patterned structure in a self‐oscillating polymer brush composed of N ‐isopropylacrylamide and a metal catalyst for the Belousov–Zhabotinsky (BZ) reaction is reported. The patterned self‐oscillating polymer brush is prepared by combining surface‐initiated atom transfer radical polymerization and maskless photolithography. Surface modification is confirmed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 3D measuring laser microscopy, and fluorescence microscopy. The polymer brush patterns are fabricated with gaps between the pentagonal regions, and investigations on the effect of the gap distance on the BZ reaction reveal that at the appropriate distance, chemical waves propagate across the array from the plane to the corner between the patterns. Unidirectional control is achieved not only in the 1D array, but also in a 2D curved array. This patterned self‐oscillating polymer brush is a novel and advantageous approach for creating an autonomous dynamic soft interface. Abstract : Pentagonal patterned polymer brushes are fabricated to control spatiotemporal function on the surface. The polymer brush is prepared by surface modification of a self‐oscillating polymer that exhibits autonomous conformation changes. The microlevel precision in patterning of the polymer brush via maskless photolithography allows the chemical waves to travel in one direction along the pentagonal array of this self‐oscillating surface.