Abstract:
We report the formation of breath-figure (BF) patterns with amino-functionalized cavities in a BF incompatible
polystyrene (PS) by incorporating functionalized alumina nanoparticles. The particles were amphiphilic-modified
and the modifier ratio was regulated to achieve a specific hydrophobic/hydrophilic balance of the particles. The
influence of the physical and chemical properties of the particles like particle concentration, the hydrophobic/
hydrophilic balance,etc., on particle dispersion in solvents having different polarity and the corresponding
changes in the BF patterns have been studied. The amphiphilic-modified alumina particles could successfully
assist the BF mechanism, generating uniform patterns in polystyrene films with the cavity walls decorated with
the functionalized alumina particles, even from water-miscible solvents like THF. The possibility of fabricating
free-standing micropatterned films by casting and drying the suspension under ambient conditions was also
demonstrated. The present method opens up a simple routefor producing functionalized BF cavities, which can
be post-modified by a chemical route for various biological application
