Adhesion of Self-Complementary, Sinusoidal Surfaces Fabricated Using Two-Photon Polymerization
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: High Resolution Image Download MS PowerPoint Slide Microscale, pick-and-place assembly is a non-lithographic assembly method poised to impact diverse fields including flexible electronics, microfluidics and robotics. However, a major technological challenge is the need to deterministically control adhesion between parts. Here, switchable adhesion involving 3D-printed, self-complementary surfaces is demonstrated. Mechanical properties of metasurfaces pressed against flat, rigid substrates are modeled using finite element methods. A series of flat slabs and metastructured slabs with 2D sinusoidal surfaces are printed using two-photon polymerization (2PP) of a shape-memory resin. The surface frequency of featured slabs was varied between 3.3̅ mm –1 and 26.6̅ mm –1 with similar amplitudes. Adhesion between printed metasurfaces and glass and between printed, self-complementary metasurfaces is studied above and below the cured resin’s glass transition temperature (∼45 °C). Simple heating of adhering surfaces to above 60 °C lowers adhesion, and compression of surfaces while above the glass transition temperature followed by cooling to room temperature elevates adhesion. The nominal adhesive strength between printed, self-complementary surfaces, as determined by the maximum observable pull-off stress, exceeds 3 MPa. Further tailoring complementary surfaces for adhesion control may facilitate microscale disassembly for recovery of components or precious metals.
Source: ACS Applied Polymer Materials
Institutions: Laboratory for Laser Energetics, University of Rochester
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanics of Materials
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,500
Award: G1116528938
OpenAlex ID: W4414577329