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Controlling the Orientation of Nanowrinkles and Nanofolds by Patterning Strain in a Thin Skin Layer on a Polymer Substrate
Author(s) -
Huntington Mark D.,
Engel Clifford J.,
Odom Teri W.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
angewandte chemie international edition
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.831
H-Index - 550
eISSN - 1521-3773
pISSN - 1433-7851
DOI - 10.1002/anie.201404483
Subject(s) - layer (electronics) , materials science , substrate (aquarium) , strain (injury) , polystyrene , polymer , composite material , polymer substrate , orientation (vector space) , thin film , nanotechnology , geometry , anatomy , medicine , oceanography , mathematics , geology
We describe herein how to control the orientation of polymer nanowrinkles and nanofolds with large amplitudes. Nanowrinkles were created by chemically treating thermoplastic polystyrene sheets to form a thin skin layer and then heating the substrate to relieve strain. By manipulating the strain globally and locally in the skin layer, we could tune whether wrinkles or folds formed, as well as the distances over which these structures could be produced. This unique materials system provided access to high strain regimes, which enabled mechanisms behind the spontaneous formation of complex structures to be explored.