Wrinkled hard skins on the surface areas of polymers! Yes, applied scientists have developed a new method for making this amazing surface area by using a focused ion beam.
This new technique can be potentially used in biological sensors and microfluidic devices. Not just that! It may offer new ways for building custom-made cell templates for tissue engineering.
The researchers literally designed patterns on flat areas of polydimethylsiloxane — a silicon-based organic polymer — by controlling the ion beam’s direction and intensity.
Ashkan Vaziri, Lecturer on Engineering and Research Associate in Applied Mechanics of Harvard Engineering and Applied Sciences said,
This technique is a one-step process for creating wrinkled skins. The method is more robust compared with traditional techniques. The patterns can be generated along desired paths by simply controlling the relative movement of the ion beam and polymeric substrate.
It’s almost like using an airbrush on fabric. At a smaller scale the desired morphology of wrinkles can be achieved by controlling the ion beam intensity.
Congratulations for the amazing development made by a collaboration of researchers at Harvard University and Seoul National University, which were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Photograph courtesy: Moon et al
