Patterns on a Roll: A Method for Continuous Feed Nanoprinting

TL;DR

This paper introduces a continuous nanoprinting method leveraging elastic instability in curved thin films, enabling the creation of complex, ordered patterns on cylindrical surfaces for advanced manufacturing.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach to nanoprinting using elastic instability on curved membranes, expanding pattern complexity and symmetry control beyond flat systems.

Findings

Elastic instability enables complex pattern formation.

Curved surfaces introduce new patterns and symmetries.

Continuous nanoprinting on cylinders is demonstrated.

Abstract

Exploiting elastic instability in thin films has proven a robust method for creating complex patterns and structures across a wide range of lengthscales. Even the simplest of systems, an elastic membrane with a lattice of pores, under mechanical strain, generates complex patterns featuring long-range orientational order. When we promote this system to a curved surface, in particular, a cylindrical membrane, a novel set of features, patterns and broken symmetries appears. The newfound periodicity of the cylinder allows for a novel continuous method for nanoprinting.