Formation of aligned needle-like crystals using wrinkles in polymer films

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20K05630
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 35020:Polymer materials-related
• Research Institution: Shinshu University
• Principal Investigator: Watanabe Masashi 信州大学, 学術研究院繊維学系, 教授 (90301209)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: シリコーン / 座屈不安定性 / 有機半導体 / 針状結晶

Outline of Final Research Achievements

One-dimensional micromaterials are potentially applicable in various sensing technologies. Variations in the sensing performance of such materials can be ameliorated by their regular arrangement. However, controlling both their orientation and spacing remains challenging. In this study, small evenly spaced droplets were aligned on a surface and the solvent in the droplets was then evaporated in air to obtain evenly spaced, aligned needle-like crystals of the solute. The droplets were confined to the concave portions of regular wrinkles formed due to buckling instability on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) rubber surface. Well-aligned needle-like crystals of 9,10-dibromoanthracene (DBA), an organic semiconductor, were obtained from the droplets. The advantages of this method include its simplicity, cost efficiency, and applicability to fragile materials.

Free Research Field

高分子化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

１次元微小材料を簡単な方法で整列させることは、このような材料を利用したセンサー等を製造する場合に重要である。加えて、低分子量の有機化合物からなる針状結晶やナノワイヤーは比較的脆いものが多いので、それらに機械的な力をかけずに整列させる手法の開発も望まれている。これらの観点も含め、本研究の手法は、低コストである点、脆い材料にも適用できる点、一度に多数の１次元微小材料を並べられる点で有用であると考えられる。