Near-zero surface pressure assembly of rectangular lattices of microgels at fluid interfaces for colloidal lithography
Miguel Ángel Fernández-Rodríguez, Maria-Nefeli Antonopoulou, Lucio Isa
Abstract
Understanding and engineering the self-assembly of soft colloidal particles (microgels) at liquid-liquid interfaces is broadening their use in colloidal lithography. Here, we present a new route to assemble rectangular lattices of microgels at near zero surface pressure relying on the balance between attractive quadrupolar capillary interactions and steric repulsion among the particles at water/oil interfaces. These self-assembled rectangular lattices are obtained for a broad range of particles and, after deposition, can be used as lithography masks to obtain regular arrays of vertically aligned nanowires via wet and dry etching processes. © 2021 The Royal Society of Chemistry.