Rotating Cylinder-Assisted Nanoimprint Lithography for Enhanced Chemisorbable Filtration Complemented by Molecularly Imprinted Polymers

Small. 2021 Dec;17(52):e2105733. doi: 10.1002/smll.202105733. Epub 2021 Dec 2.

Abstract

Rotating cylindrical stamp-based nanoimprint technique has many advantages, including the continuous fabrication of intriguing micro/nanostructures and rapid pattern transfer on a large scale. Despite these advantages, the previous nanoimprint lithography has rarely been used for producing sophisticated nanoscale patterns on a non-planar substrate that has many extended applications. Here, the simple integration of nanoimprinting process with a help of a transparent stamp wrapped on the cylindrical roll and UV optical source in the core to enable high-throughput pattern transfer, particularly on a fabric substrate is demonstrated. Moreover, as a functional resin material, this innovative strategy involves a synergistic approach on the synthesis of molecularly imprinted polymer, which are spatially organized free-standing perforated nanostructures such as nano/microscale lines, posts, and holes patterns on various woven or nonwoven blank substrates. The proposed materials can serve as a self-encoded filtration medium for selective separation of formaldehyde molecules. It is envisioned that the combinatorial fabrication process and attractive material paves the way for designing next-generation separation systems in use to capture industrial or household toxic substances.

Keywords: chemical filtration; molecularly imprinted polymers; nanoimprint lithography; roll-to-plate.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Molecularly Imprinted Polymers*
  • Nanostructures*
  • Printing

Substances

  • Molecularly Imprinted Polymers