Journal
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
Volume 19, Issue 19, Pages 3038-3045Publisher
WILEY-V C H VERLAG GMBH
DOI: 10.1002/adfm.200900622
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Funding
- National Science Foundation MRSEC [DMR05-20020]
- NSF CAREER award [DMR-0548070]
- David and Lucile Packard Foundation (JAB)
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Hydrogels with controlled surface patterns are useful for a range of applications, including in microdevices, sensors, coatings, and adhesives. In this work, a simple and robust method to generate a wide range of osmotically driven surface patterns, including random, lamellar, peanut, and hexagonal structures is developed. This method does not require the use of organic solvents for swelling, pre-patterning of the film surface, or coating of a second layer on the gel. The patterns are fabricated by exposing a photocurable formulation to light while open to air and then swelling, using oxygen inhibition of the radical polymerization at the surface to create a gradient of crosslinking with depth, which was confirmed by measuring the double bond conversion at the surface, surface mechanics, and molecule diffusion into the network. The modulus gradient, and hence osmotic pressure, is controlled by the crosslinker concentration, and the characteristic size of the patterns is determined by the initial film thickness. The patterns are stable in both swollen and dry states, creating a versatile approach that is useful for diverse polymers to create complex patterns with long-range order.
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