Self-assembled patterns from evaporating layered fluids

Abstract

We studied the formation of tree-like patterns of polymer aggregates and rings of nanoparticles during evaporation from a fluid film. We utilize phase separation between two immiscible fluids to generate a double-layer film which dries up in a sequential manner. Both fluid layers may contain a solute, polymer aggregates or nanoparticles. During evaporation of the top layer, instabilities may occur and direct a self-assembly process of the solute which may be further affected by an instability of the bottom layer at a later stage. We present two cases where, after evaporation of the top fluid layer, the solute was adsorbed on the surface of the bottom fluid layer. In comparison to dewetting of a single fluid layer on a solid substrate, the advantage of our double-layer approach lies in the deposition of the solute on the surface of the bottom fluid layer. The relatively high mobility of the solute on such a fluid surface favors the formation of ordered patterns, driven by an instability of the bottom layer.