Title

Low-Distortion Surface Functionalization of Polymeric Microstructures

Authors

Authors

S. M. Kuebler; A. Narayanan; D. E. Karas;K. M. Wilburn

Comments

Authors: contact us about adding a copy of your work at STARS@ucf.edu

Abbreviated Journal Title

Macromol. Chem. Phys.

Keywords

metallization; microelectromechanical systems (MEMS); microfluidics; microstructure; surface functionalization; PHOTONIC CRYSTALS; MICROANALYTICAL DEVICES; HOLOGRAPHIC LITHOGRAPHY; MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES; IN-SITU; FABRICATION; SU-8; NANOPARTICLES; PROTEIN; SILICA; Polymer Science

Abstract

Polymeric microstructures can be immersed in an organic solution containing a reactive linker to functionalize the surface for attachment of nanoparticles, fluorescent dyes, proteins, DNA, and other species. However, organic media can swell and distort polymeric microstructures. Swelling and distortion can be irreversible when the linkers are themselves low-molecular-weight organics like ethylenediamine, which can bind to unreacted monomer groups or other functionalities within the polymer matrix. This work introduces an alternative approach for surface functionalization based on aqueous processing using higher-molecular-weight amines, which causes less distortion, but is comparably effective. The processes are compared by aminating crosslinked SU-8 thin films and 3D "woodpile" microstructures, electrolessly depositing copper onto these primed surfaces, and measuring the amount of copper deposited and the degree of distortion caused by amination. The method provides a new route to low-distortion SU-8 microstructures and identifies a path for improving related processing with other polymeric materials and structure types.

Journal Title

Macromolecular Chemistry and Physics

Volume

215

Issue/Number

16

Publication Date

1-1-2014

Document Type

Article

Language

English

First Page

1533

Last Page

1542

WOS Identifier

WOS:000340569200003

ISSN

1022-1352

Share

COinS