Making Multilayer Polymeric Microstructure with Microcontact Printing

Microstructures of various polymers, such as polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate, were fabricated with microcontact printing, directly using the corresponding dilute polymeric solutions as “inks”, whose concentrations were about 10 g/L. By repeatedly cross-stamping with the inks, multilayer quasi-three-dimensional polymeric microstructures could be obtained. Both optical photographs and SEM photos showed clear microstructures, which were nearly accurate replication of the original patterns in the PDMS stamps. Microlines of poly-bis-(p-toluene sulfonate)-2,4-hexadiyne-1,6-diol) (PTS) were also fabricated by first processed microcontact printing with solution of the corresponding monomer TS/acetone as ink, then followed with UVpolymerization of the monomer micropatterns at solid state. Unlike small molecule processes, the molecules of polymeric inks did not selfassembly on the surface of substrates. The formation of polymeric microstructures could be ascribed to the fact that, after volatilization of solvents, polymers tend to stick to the surface of glass substrate which has higher surface free energy (about 72 mN/m), but not to the surface of PDMS stamp which has lower surface free energy (about 20 mN/m). Also the microcontact printing process was studied with optical microscopy, and the main factor--volatilization time of solvent was discussed. The results showed that the volatilization time of solvent is very crucial to the process of polymeric microcontact printing, and with too longer or too shorter volatilization time, the obtained microstructures would become discontinuous or distorted, respectively. For example, with a polystyrene/chloroform solution as ink, the optimal volatilization time was about 15~20 s.