title: Light induced patterning of poly(dimethylsiloxane) microstructures.
abstract: A new method for direct patterning of Poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) microstructures is developed by taking advantage of photorefractive effect in a functionalized substrate. Here we show that when a x-cut Iron doped Lithium Niobate (LN) crystal is exposed to appropriate structured laser light, a charge density pattern builds-up in the crystal and a space charge field arise that is able to induce self-patterning of the PDMS liquid film deposited on its surface via the dielectrophoretic effects. Proper heating treatment allows to achieve polymeric linking process creating a solid and stable PDMS microstructures. The self-patterned structures replicate the illuminating light pattern. We show that 1D and 2D patterning of PDMS gratings can be achieved. This new soft-lithographic approach can pave the way for realizing PDMS micro-structures with high degree of flexibility that avoids the need of moulds fabrication.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Nazionale di Ottica del CNR, INO-CNR Via Campi Flegrei, 34-80078-Pozzuoli, Na, Italy. lisa.miccio@inoa.it
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Miccio
authors.forename: Melania
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paturzo
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finizio
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ferraro
mesh_terms: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D008027:Light; D008422:Materials Testing; D008904:Miniaturization; D012031:Refractometry / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004129:Dimethylpolysiloxanes; C013830:baysilon