摘要 |
<p>The present invention relates to highly ordered arrays of colloidal 2D crystals on a substrate and to an improved method for producing the same. The method according to the invention for producing an highly ordered array of colloidal 2D crystals on a substrate comprises the following steps: a) providing a suspension of microspheres comprising poly-N-isopropylamide (polyNIPAM), the microspheres being selected from pure poly-N-isopropylamide (polyNIPAM) hydrogel microspheres, functionalized polyNIPAM microspheres, and polymeric or inorganic beads carrying poly-N-isopropyl-amide (polyNIPAM) hydrogel chains, in an aqueous medium on a substrate, wherein the aqueous medium comprises a mixture of water and a lower alkyl alcohol, b) subjecting the suspension deposited on the substrate after step a) to a shear force, and c) drying the suspension. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the shear force is generated by applying a pulsed gas stream to the substrate surface. The colloidal 2D crystal arrays obtained by this method have an exceptional high long range order, including monocrystalline domains in the range of square millimetres.</p> |