Micromolding in capillaries

The PDMS stamp in this technique is placed on a hard surface containing liquid polymer, such that through capillary action the liquid polymer flows into the recesses between the surface and the stamp. On solidification, the polymer takes the form of the desired pattern. Patterning is completed when the stamp is released from the solidified polymer. This technique can replicate features smaller than 10 nm.  

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The procedure for micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC) for fabricating the microstructure of polymeric materials has been reported [155-157], Vacuum-assisted MIMIC was later reported. These methods are essentially casting a soft curable polymer against a mold [158],... 

Shim HW, Lee JH, Hwang TS et al (2007) Patterning of proteins and cells on functionalized surfaces prepared by polyelectrolyte multilayers and micromolding in capillaries. Biosens Bioelectron 22(12) 3188-3195... 

The as-synthesized amine intercalated VO, nanolubes could be aligned on glass substrates by using micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC).86 An elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamp where parallel capillaries of 5 pm were patterned was used as the mould.86 The capillaries were filled with a VO, nanotube suspension in octanol. After evaporation of the solvent and removal of the mould, long lines of assemblies of well aligned nanotubes were obtained. 

Micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC) [102,103] differs from the techniques discussed previously because it is not a contact printing technique. Rather, MIMIC is a molding technique that relies on the spontaneous hlling of the microchannels of the mold with a fluid, which can be a solution, a suspension, or precursors of the material to be patterned. This technique is therefore useful for patterning thick polymer, ceramic, and metal features. 

Soft lithography includes a collection of lithographic methods in which a soft mold or template is used to create patterned structures in the subjeeted materials. These methods offer attractive solutions for producing well-ordered CP nanowires. For example, Beh et al have developed a micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC) process in which a poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) mold with embedded ehannels can be used for the... 

Fig. 3 Cross-sectional SEM image of a patterned silicon substrate. By means of micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC), Si was decorated with poly(ferrocen)ddimethylsilane) lines, followed by etching with SFe (3 min) in a cryogenic reactive ion etcher. The organo-metallic polymer residue was removed with nitric acid...

VIII. MIP MICROMONOLITHS FABRICATED THROUGH MICROMOLDING IN CAPILLARIES... 

Recently, the soft lithography [51,52] technique of micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC) [53,54] has been used to fabricate MIP micromonoliths on silicon wafers [55,56]. In MIMIC, an elastomeric stamp that possesses recessed features is placed in intimate contact with a soUd substrate. The recessed microchannels on the stamp form a network of empty capillaries. When a low-viscosity fluid precursor is placed at one end, it spontaneously fills the channels by capillary action. Curing of the fluid leaves patterned microstructures on the substrate surface as shown in Fig. 7. 

Figure 7 Schematic illustration for the fabrication of pol mer microstructures using the technique of micromolding in capillaries.

IX. MICROMOLDING IN CAPILLARIES FOR THE GENERATION OF MOLECULARLY IMPRINTED POLYMER MICROMONOLITHS... 

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