PEDOT surface energy pattern controls fluorescent polymer deposition by dewetting

An elastomeric stamp of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) can modify the surface energy of some surfaces when brought into conformal contact with these for some time. The substrates under investigation are a conducting polymer poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS) and a polyelectrolyte poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate) (NaPSS). The changes in surface wetting are characterized by contact angle measurement. Changes are due to the PDMS stamp, which leaves low molecular weight residues on the surface, as shown by infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy. This process may also be operating when other inks are transferred in microcontact printing. Patterning of fluorescent polymer film with feature size of 10-100 mum range is done by confining polymer solutions on the modified surface, by means of spin- or dip-coating. The profile of the patterned film and factors that influence the profile are discussed. This technique is a convenient way to build polymer microstructures for application in organic and biomolecular electronics and photonics. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.