title: Layer-by-layer strippable Ag multilayer films fabricated by modular assembly.
abstract: We have developed a new method to fabricate multilayer films, which uses prepared thin films as modular blocks and transfer as operation mode to build up multilayer structures. In order to distinguish it from the in situ fabrication manner, this method is called modular assembly in this study. On the basis of such concept, we have fabricated a multilayer film using the silver mirror film as the modular block and poly(lactic acid) as the transfer tool. Due to the special double-layer structure of the silver mirror film, the resulting multilayer film had a well-defined stratified architecture with alternate porous/compact layers. As a consequence of the distinct structure, the interaction between the adjacent layers was so weak that the multilayer film could be layer-by-layer stripped. In addition, the top layer in the film could provide an effective protection on the morphology and surface property of the underlying layers. This suggests that if the surface of the film was deteriorated, the top layer could be peeled off and the freshly exposed surface would still maintain the original function. The successful preparation of the layer-by-layer strippable silver multilayer demonstrates that modular assembly is a feasible and effective method to build up multilayer films capable of creating novel and attractive micro/nanostructures, having great potential in the fabrication of nanodevices and coatings.
authors.affiliation: College of Sciences and ‡College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University , Shenyang 110819, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qianqian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Shihui
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiaoyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yong-Hua
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Fu-Chun
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: En-Hou
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D012834:Silver / Q000737:chemistry*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; D012834:Silver; C033616:poly(lactide)