Issue 18, 2011

Soft elastic surfaces as a platform for particle self-assembly

Abstract

We perform numerical simulations to study self-assembly of nanoparticles mediated by an elastic planar surface. We show how the nontrivial elastic response to deformations of these surfaces leads to anisotropic interactions between the particles resulting in aggregates having different geometrical features. The morphology of the patterns can be controlled by the mechanical properties of the surface and the strength of the particle adhesion. We use simple scaling arguments to understand the formation of the different structures, and we show how the adhering particles can cause the underlying elastic substrate to wrinkle if two of its opposite edges are clamped. Finally, we discuss the implications of our results and suggest how elastic surfaces could be used in nanofabrication.

Graphical abstract: Soft elastic surfaces as a platform for particle self-assembly

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Apr. 2011
Accepted
16 Jūn. 2011
First published
08 Aug. 2011

Soft Matter, 2011,7, 8324-8329

Soft elastic surfaces as a platform for particle self-assembly

A. Šarić and A. Cacciuto, Soft Matter, 2011, 7, 8324 DOI: 10.1039/C1SM05773A

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