Table-top deterministic and collective colloidal assembly using videoprojector lithography

• Published in: Applied surface science 2015-09, Vol.349, p.452-458
• Main Authors: Cordeiro, J., Zelsmann, M., Honegger, T., Picard, E., Hadji, E., Peyrade, D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arrays; Assembly; Capillary force assembly; Colloidal assembly; Colloids; Creativity; Life sciences; Lithography; Maskless lithography; Nanotechnology; Physics; Videoprojector
• ISSN: 0169-4332; 1873-5584
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apsusc.2015.04.223

•Micrometric resolution substrates are made at low cost using a videoprojector.•Fabricated patterns could be used as substrates for capillary force assembly.•Arrays of organized particles are made using a table-top capillary assembly tool.•This process offers a new bridge between the colloidal domain and the chip world. In the field of micro- and nanotechnology, most lithography and fabrication tools coming from the microelectronic industry are expensive, time-consuming and may need some masks that have to be subcontracted. Such approach is not suitable for other fields that require rapid prototyping such as chemistry, life science or energy and may hinder research creativity. In this work, we present two table-top equipments dedicated to the fabrication of deterministic colloidal particles assemblies onto micro-structured substrates. We show that, with a limited modification of the optics of a standard videoprojector, it is possible to quickly obtain substrates with thousands of micrometric features. Then, we combine these substrates with thermodynamic colloidal assembly and generate arrays of particles without defects. This work opens the way to a simple and table-top fabrication of devices based on colloidal particles.