Stress-induced self-assembly of complex three dimensional structures by elastic membranes

Abstract

Based on the stress-induced rolling membrane technique, complex three-dimensional structures are designed, such as tubes with wrinkled walls, tubes-in-a-tube, and spiral structures. Narrow PDMS strips are used instead of the whole PDMS top layer, thus obtaining tubes made of the bottom polymer.

Keywords: elastic membranes; polymer thin films; self-assembly; three dimensional structures.