Methods and materials for fabricating laminate nanomolds and nanoparticles therefrom
A laminate nanomold includes a layer of perfluoropolyether defining a cavity that has a predetermined shape and a support layer coupled with the layer of perfluoropolyether. The laminate can also include a tie-layer coupling the layer of perfluoropolyether with the support layer. The tie-layer can also include a photocurable component and a thermal curable component. The cavity can have a broadest dimension of less than 500 nanometers.
1. A laminate mold comprising:
a mold layer including a first surface defining a plurality of cavities, wherein each cavity of the plurality of cavities has a predetermined shape and is less than 10 micrometers in a largest dimension, the mold layer having a thickness of less than 75 micrometers and comprising a cured polymer material selected from the group consisting of: fluoropolyether, perfluoropolyether, poly(dimethylsiloxane), poly(tetramethylene oxide), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(oxetanes), polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and fluoroolefin-based fluoroelastomers; and
a support layer affixed to a second surface of the mold layer opposite the first surface;
wherein the laminate mold has a modulus of greater than 1000 MPa.
2. The laminate mold of claim 1 , wherein the support layer is affixed to the mold layer by a tie-layer disposed between the support layer and the second surface of the mold layer.
3. The laminate mold of claim 2 , wherein the tie-layer comprises a dual-cured material.
4. The laminate mold of claim 2 , wherein the tie-layer comprises a photocured component and a thermally cured component.
5. The laminate mold of claim 2 , wherein the tie-layer has a thickness between 5 micrometers and 75 micrometers.
6. The laminate mold of claim 1 , wherein the support layer has a thickness of less than 10 mil.
7. The laminate mold of claim 1 , wherein the support layer comprises a polymer material.
8. The laminate mold of claim 1 , wherein the support layer comprises poly(ethylene terephthalate).
9. The laminate mold of claim 1 , wherein each cavity of the plurality of cavities is less than 5 micrometers from an adjacent cavity.
10. The laminate mold of claim 1 , wherein the cured polymer material has a surface energy between 7 mN/m and 20 mN/m.
11. The laminate mold of claim 1 , wherein the laminate mold has a modulus of at least 1400 MPa.
12. The laminate mold of claim 1 , wherein the cured polymer material comprises an elastomer.
13. The laminate mold of claim 1 , wherein each cavity of the plurality of cavities is less than 1 micrometer in a largest dimension.
14. A laminate mold comprising:
a mold layer including a first surface defining a plurality of cavities, wherein each cavity of the plurality of cavities has a predetermined shape and is less than 10 micrometers in a largest dimension, the mold layer having a thickness of less than 75 micrometers and comprising an elastomer having a surface energy of less than 30 mN/m and selected from the group consisting of: fluoropolyether, perfluoropolyether, poly(dimethylsiloxane), poly(tetramethylene oxide), poly(ethylene oxide), poly(oxetanes), polyisoprene, polybutadiene, and fluoroolefin-based fluoroelastomers; and
a polymer support layer affixed to a second surface of the mold layer opposite the first surface by a tie-layer comprising a dual-cured material disposed between the polymer support layer and the second surface of the mold layer;
wherein the laminate mold has a modulus of greater than 1000 MPa.
15. The laminate mold of claim 14 , wherein the polymer support layer comprises poly(ethylene terephthalate).
16. The laminate mold of claim 14 , wherein the tie-layer comprises a photocured component and a thermally cured component.
17. The laminate mold of claim 14 , wherein the elastomer has a surface energy between 7 mN/m and 20 mN/m.
18. The laminate mold of claim 14 , wherein each cavity of the plurality of cavities is less than 1 micrometer in a largest dimension.