Morphology-controlled 2D ordered arrays by heating-induced deformation of 2D colloidal monolayer

We develop a strategy to fabricate morphology-controlled two dimensional (2D) ordered arrays by solution-dipping sintered colloidal monolayer template. By heating colloid monolayer templates for different times, the morphology of ordered arrays can be controlled effectively, which is valuable to investigate the morphology-dependent optical, magnetic, electrochemical, catalytic properties of arrays. With increase of the heating time for templates, 2D ordered arrays with different morphologies can be fabricated in turn, such as, spherical pore array, honeycomb-shaped nanowall array, nanopillar array and regular network. Two kinds of morphology-controlled 2D periodic arrays, ferric oxide and silica, have been fabricated successfully by this way. This route is universal for synthesis of other compounds' ordered arrays with controlled morphology. This strategy has expanded the applications of the colloidal monolayers as templates to prepare ordered nanostructured functional arrays.