Ring Wrinkle Patterns with Continuously Changing Wavelength Produced Using a Controlled-Gradient Light Field

We report a facile method to prepare gradient wrinkles using a controlled-gradient light field. Because of the gradient distance between the ultraviolet (UV) lamp and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate during UV/ozone treatment, the irradiance reaching the substrate continuously changed, which was transferred into the resulting SiOx film with a varying thickness. Therefore, wrinkles with continuously changing wavelength were fabricated using this approach. It was found that the wrinkle wavelength decreased as the distance increased. We fabricated 1-D wrinkle patterns and ring wrinkles with a gradient wavelength. The ring wrinkles were prepared using radial stresses, which were achieved by pulling the center of a freely hanging PDMS film. The resulting wrinkles with changing wavelength can be used in fluid handling systems, biological templates, and optical devices.