Parallel cracks from a desiccating colloidal layer under gravity flow and their use in fabricating metal micro-patterns
Indrajit Mondal, Ankush Kumar, K.D.M. Rao, Giridhar U. Kulkarni
PHYS CHEM SOLIDS 118:232-237, 2018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpcs.2018.03.020
Desiccating cracks in random networks have been gaining importance as templates for metal deposition to produce transparent conducting electrodes (TCEs). The method being essentially lithography-free, a control over crack formation would simply translate to desirable opto- electronics properties in the patterned meshes. Herein, we report a simple, instrument-free scalable technique to produce parallel crack patterns in the desiccating layer using film thickness gradient formed under gravity flow of a colloidal dispersion on an inclined substrate. Finally as an example of patterning in desired regions, laser printed stripes on PET have been employed to produce confined geometry thereby leading stripes of parallel grating structures.
Posted by Indrajit Mondal
