A thermally shrinkable and conductive nanocomposite material is prepared by supersonic cluster beam implantation (SCBI) of neutral Au nanoparticles (Au NPs) into a commercially available thermo-retractable polystyrene (PS) sheet. Micronanowrinkling is obtained during shrinking, which is studied by means of SEM, TEM and AFM imaging. Characteristic periodicity is determined and correlated with nanoparticle implantation dose, which permits us to tune the topographic pattern. Remarkable differences emerged with respect to the well-known case of wrinkling of bilayer metal-polymer. Wrinkled composite surfaces are characterized by a peculiar multiscale structuring that promises potential technological applications in the field of catalytic surfaces, sensors, biointerfaces, and optics, among others.
Keywords: buckling; implantation; metal NPs; nanocomposite; pattern; shrink; surface wrinkling.