Going to Nanoscale by Surface Patterning

Polymers forming glassy states are notable for the creation of nanostructures on their surfaces. Liquid crystalline glassy polymers are of interest due to the inherently higher molecular order they possess. This allows for creation and observation of a number of unique patterns on their surfaces. These patterns may be induced by intelligent heating or light irradiation. In this work we used conventional polymer glasses and nanoparticles to decorate and replicate such patterns on the surface of glassy chiral liquid crystalline polymers. The polymers were studied by Atomic Force Microscopy. It was observed that both chiral polymers and replicas can be decorated with nanoparticles and form a variety of surface patterns. The possibility of using these patterns for the creation of metamaterials is discussed.