Self-organization of polymer nanoneedles into large-area ordered flowerlike arrays

Combination of top-down and bottom-up process is crucial for fabricating ordered complex micronanostructures. Here we report a simple, rapid, and versatile approach to demonstrate this useful concept, which involves the joint use of multibeam interference patterning and capillary force self-organization. Regular hydrophobic arrays of four-peddle nanoflowers consisting of bent needles with 300 nm tip diameters are readily produced. A "domino model" based on the balance of the capillary and support forces were proposed to interpret realization of large-area homogeneity of the array. The technology, promising for preparing more complex and functional structures, may find broad utilization in nano and biological researches. (C) 2009 American Institute of Physics. [DOI: 10.1063/1.3213394]