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Abstract Nanoparticles form long‐range micropatterns via self‐assembly or directed self‐assembly with superior mechanical, electrical, optical, magnetic, chemical, and other functional properties for broad applications, such as structural supports, thermal exchangers, optoelectronics, microelectronics, and robotics. The precisely defined particle assembly at the nanoscale with simultaneously scalable patterning at the microscale is indispensable for enabling functionality and improving the performance of devices. This article provides a comprehensive review of nanoparticle assembly formed primarily via the balance of forces at the nanoscale (e.g., van der Waals, colloidal, capillary, convection, and chemical forces) and nanoparticle‐template interactions (e.g., physical confinement, chemical functionalization, additive layer‐upon‐layer). The review commences with a general overview of nanoparticle self‐assembly, with the state‐of‐the‐art literature review and motivation. It subsequently reviews the recent progress in nanoparticle assembly without the presence of surface templates. Manufacturing techniques for surface template fabrication and their influence on nanoparticle assembly efficiency and effectiveness are then explored. The primary focus is the spatial organization and orientational preference of nanoparticles on non‐templated and pre‐templated surfaces in a controlled manner. Moreover, the article discusses broad applications of micropatterned surfaces, encompassing various fields. Finally, the review concludes with a summary of manufacturing methods, their limitations, and future trends in nanoparticle assembly.
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FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF POLYCARBONATE SUBSTRATES FOR HIGH YIELD ASSEMBLY OF MULTICOMPONENT BIOHYBRID MICROROBOTS
This paper presents polycarbonate negative topographies used as substrates for the templated self- assembly of microsphere-based microrobots. This approach protects primary structures from damage during molding and de-molding, providing high fidelity negatives of arrays for assembly via templated assembly by selective removal (TASR). We show that reducing the surface energy mismatch between the microspheres and substrate results in yield increases up to 790%. This work addresses yield-related challenges of multicomponent microsystem assembly with existing PDMS-based templated assembly methods. The application of this technology in DNA microswimmer fabrication is demonstrated.
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- PAR ID:
- 10547070
- Publisher / Repository:
- IEEE
- Date Published:
- ISSN:
- 2167-0021
- ISBN:
- 978-4-88686-435-2
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 2141-2144
- Subject(s) / Keyword(s):
- Self-assembly, Polycarbonate Heat (PCH) Molding, Templated Assembly by Selective Removal (TASR), Two- Photon Polymerization (TPP), Microswimmer
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Location:
- 2023 22nd International Conference on Solid-State Sensors, Actuators and Microsystems (Transducers)
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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