title: Wettability engendered templated self-assembly (WETS) for fabricating multiphasic particles.
abstract: Precise control over the geometry and chemistry of multiphasic particles is of significant importance for a wide range of applications. In this work, we have developed one of the simplest methodologies for fabricating monodisperse, multiphasic micro- and nanoparticles possessing almost any composition, projected shape, modulus, and dimensions as small as 25 nm. The synthesis methodology involves the fabrication of a nonwettable surface patterned with monodisperse, wettable domains of different sizes and shapes. When such patterned templates are dip-coated with polymer solutions or particle dispersions, the liquids, and consequently the polymer or the particles, preferentially self-assemble within the wettable domains. Utilizing this phenomenon, we fabricate multiphasic assemblies with precisely controlled geometry and composition through multiple, layered depositions of polymers and/or particles within the patterned domains. Upon releasing these multiphasic assemblies from the template using a sacrificial layer, we obtain multiphasic particles. The templates can then be readily reused (over 20 times in our experiments) for fabricating a new batch of particles, enabling a rapid, inexpensive, and easily reproducible method for large-scale manufacturing of multiphasic particles.
authors.affiliation: Department of Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan , Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States.
authors.forename: Sai P R
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Kobaku
authors.forename: Gibum
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Arun K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kota
authors.forename: Raghuraman G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Karunakaran
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Duck Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Anish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuteja
keywords: multiphasic particles; particles fabrication; patterned surfaces; precise patterning; wettability