Abstract:
Hierarchical structures on the surface of materials can enhance their physical-chemical properties and enable extra functions. However, current fabrication method usually involves complex procedures and special treatments. A facile method towards the formation of hierarchical structures on the surface of materials is highly desired. In this work, orderly arrayed PS micro-disks were firstly prepared through controlled evaporating self-assembly of PS solutions on the silicon substrate followed by heating treatment and rinsing with solvent. Subsequently, hierarchical structures on the silicon substrate were prepared through self-assembly of poly(
γ-benzyl-
L-glutamate)-
block-poly (ethylene glycol) (PBLG-
b-PEG) rod-coil block copolymers on the obtained orderly arrayed PS micro-disks. The surface morphology of the micro-disks was observed by optical microscope and atom force microscope, and the wettability of the patterned surface was characterized by contact angle meter. PS hemispherical micro-dots were formed by the controlled evaporating self-assembly of PS solutions on the silicon substrate, and the micro-dots well organized in gradient arrays. After thermal annealing and extensive rinsing with solvent, the PS segments were irreversibly adsorbed on the silicon substrate, leading to ultrathin PS micro-disks. The surface of the micro-disks is smooth and the thickness of the disks is approximately 11 nm. These PS micro-disks are immersed in the THF/DMF solution of PBLG-
b-PEG block copolymers. With the addition of water, the block copolymers self-assembled on the surface of the micro-disks, giving rise to periodic nano-sized stripes. The height, pitch, and width of the nano-sized stripes are approximately 5, 50 nm, and 22 nm, respectively. Interestingly, the surface wettability of the substrates presents dependence on the microstructures. As the microstructures transformed from the PS micro-dots to the PS micro-disks and then to the stripe-patterned disks, the contact angle decreases gradually, indicating the increase in wettability. This work provides an effective approach to construct hierarchical structures on the surface of materials, and the stripe-patterned disks obtained in this work will have potential applications in bionics, biosensors, and nanotechnology.