FORMATION OF ORDERED MESOSCOPIC PATTERNS IN POLYMER CAST FILMS BY DEWETTING

Ordered arrays of polymer aggregates can be prepared by a simple proce ss: rinsing of smooth hydrophilic surfaces with a dilute solution of a hydrophobic polymer. The patterns consist of submicron-size polymer a ggregates which can form superlattices over several tens of micrometer s, thus self-assembling several hundred aggregates in an orderly fashi on. Atomic force microscopy shows that the structures consist of isola ted 'polymer islands', separated by the bare substrate. The ordering o f the aggregates can be explained by the formation of regular, dissipa tive structures caused by convection during the evaporation of the sol vent, followed by dewetting of the hydrophobic polymer solution from t he smooth hydrophilic surface. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A. All righ ts reserved.