Flexible and Speedy Preparation of Large-Scale Polystyrene Monolayer through Hemispherical-Depression-Assisted Self-Assembling and Vertical Lifting

Abstract

Liquid interfacial self-assembled two-dimensional nanomonolayers are promising as colloidal crystal templates or lithographic masks for the mass production of periodic nanoarrays. However, the interfacial self-assembled monolayers usually suffer various defects such as grain boundaries, line defects, vacancy defects, and multilayers due to imperfect process technology. Here, we demonstrated a series of optimized strategies including the hemispherical-depression-assisted self-assembly, dot coating approach, and vertical lifting transfer protocol to eliminate surface defects especially multilayers jointly. After stabilizing the hemispherical depression height to 1.5 mm with a 40° tilted silicon slide, the self-assembly time was significantly shortened to 10 min for a 1 × 2 cm2 area of PS monolayer. The series of strategies were successfully implemented not only on glass and silicon flat substrates but also on the side and end face of optical fiber, even on flexible substrates, while maintaining great morphologies. Besides, in association with nanospherical lens photolithography and nanosphere lithography technologies, various two-dimensional nanoarrays such as nanotriangles and nanoholes could be successfully obtained for subsequent optical properties research, which present broad application prospects in biochemical sensing, medicine, environmental protection, and other fields.

Review of Fiber-Optic Localized Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensors: Geometries, Fabrication Technologies, and Bio-Applications

“…Furthermore, this review will delve into the different fabrication technologies utilized in the development of FOLSPR sensors. These techniques include top-down fabrication of periodic nanostructures using the focused ion beam (FIB) or electron beam lithography (EBL), surface self-assembly of nanoparticles, and bottom-up nanostructured film transfer techniques [11,12]. These fabrication technologies allow for precise control over the surface morphology of the nanostructures, further enhancing the performance of the sensors.…”

Nanostructured Effect on Antifouling Conducting Polymers through Interfacial Adhesive Interaction and Protein Adsorption

“…As a result, PS beads can be easily transferred to any desired substrate. As the solvent evaporates, capillary forces come into play, causing the beads to self-assemble into a regular array or pattern on the substrate. − Colloidal lithography using PS beads offers several advantages, including its simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and the ability to achieve nanoscale patterning.…”