Patterning of Polymeric/Inorganic Nanocomposite and Nanoparticle Layers

Polymeric/inorganic nanocomposite dishes of hydrolyzed poly(styrene- alt -maleic anhydride) (HSMA) and TiO 2 were patterned on substrates by microcontact printing (μCP) of the dispersions of nanosized TiO 2 colloidal particles in HSMA solutions; the structure formation with respect to the μCP process was discussed. The orderly arranged HSMA/TiO 2 dishes are homogeneous in size. After removal of the polymer in the printed composite dishes by calcination, well-defined nanostructured TiO 2 layers are formed in the regions where the composite dishes appear. The printed composite dishes come from the dishlike composite aggregates transferred onto a substrate from a stamp surface. The drying of the dispersion droplets formed in a topographically controlled de-wetting of the dispersion on the stamp surface results in the dishlike aggregates, for which the pinning of the droplet contact line is of key importance. The diameter of the printed dishes is mainly determined by the stamp geometry, and not influenced remarkably by HSMA and/or TiO 2 concentrations. The component fractions mainly influence the heights of the dish rim and plate, the width of the dish rim, and the continuity of the plate within the rim.