Force-controlled Microcontact Printing using Microassembled Particle Templates

— In this paper, force-controlled microcontact printing using microassembly-based particle templates is investigated. Polystyrene microparticles are assembled semi-automatically into a desired pattern on a glass substrate using an Atomic Force Microscope nanoprobe installed on a nanopositioning stage. The micropattern on glass is sputtered with aluminum and removed of microparticles by ultrasonic vibration, resulting in a template with microfeatures corresponding to the microparticles. A soft lithography method is used to mold elastomeric polymers on the template, resulting in a stamp. The stamp is inked and printed using a force-controlled system onto a polystyrene substrate. Depending on the particle size and contact force, a smaller micro to nanometer sized pattern can be formed. As the spherical patterns on the stamp collapse due to interfacial contact forces, force-controlled microcontact printing is crucial for controlling the size of stamped features. Green fluorescent protei...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 2006
• Where: ICRA
• Authors: Afshin Tafazzoli, Chytra Pawashe, Metin Sitti
• Keywords: Contact Forces, Force-controlled Microcontact Printing, ICRA 2006, Polystyrene Microparticles, Robotics