| Researcher Contact: David Fries |
| One of the primary purposes in modern condensed-matter physics is the generation of novel materials for the full gamut of technological applications, especially in the form of thin films where very exciting opportunities exist in the fields of physics, biology, chemistry, environmental sciences, etc. The creation of novel thin films and structures is increasingly focused on the complex materials being deposited, reduced dimensions of features, and patterned films for various purposes. In our lab, some micro-patterned functional thin films including the hybrid films of semiconductive-conductive and organic-inorganic, and the thin film of thermal-sensitive hydrogel were constructed in quick and simple methods under room temperature and ambient environment. |
| Silver Thin Film |
 A simple fabrication method has been developed to make patterned thin films of Ag and Ag over TiO2. The technique combines lithographic based patterning with Ag reaction chemistry under room temperature and ambient atmosphere. The TiO2 film beneath the deposited Ag film enhanced the attachment of Ag on substrates such as glass and silicon wafers. Patterned Ag and Ag/TiO2 films were fabricated using non-conventional maskless UV lithography-patterning approach. |
| Silica Thin Films |
 A simple, non-etching related method has been developed to make patterned SiO2 films over TiO2 (SiO2/TiO2) under room temperature and ambient atmosphere in a short period (typically, less than 1 h) through convenient photo and chemical reactions. The patterned TiO2 film was fabricated through photo-irradiation of a photosensitive organic-titanium film using a mask. SiO2 particles were deposited over the TiO2 film with the pattern of the TiO2 film through a rapid chemical reaction. The silica films can be further modified for a variety of purposes toward applications such as patternable, location-specific silica-based separation and purification. For instance, the silica film was successfully amino-silylated for immobilizing DNA and proteins.
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| Thermal Sensative Hydrogel |
 Poly-N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) is a kind of thermo-sensitive hydrogel which has a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of about 32–34ºC. Because of its thermal behavior combined with other material advantages, NIPAm has been widely used in, e.g., drug delivery, bioartificial materials, biosample pretreatment, sensors, and actuator. Additionally, NIPAm gel is a promising candidate for the development of fluid micro-systems such as micro-pumps and micro-valves because of their thermally induced volume changes at low temperature. The NIPAm hydrogels were fabricated by photolithographic patterning of photo cross-linkable polymers under the SF-100. |
