Patterning a two-dimensional colloidal crystal by water-mediated particle transfer printing

We report a new particle transfer printing (pTP) method that uses a water-mediated transfer process. Water-mediated pTP is based on the direct transfer of a two-dimensional (2-D) colloidal crystal film from a poly(dimethylsiloxane) stamp to a substrate via water-mediated surface bonding between the stamp and the substrate. In water-mediated pTP, the water layer serves as an adhesion layer to provide good conformal contact and form strong covalent bonding between the silica colloidal particle and the Si substrate. The transferred 2-D colloidal crystal patterns are chemically bound to the substrate surface and, thus, exhibit strong adhesion.