Fabrication using ‘programmed’ reactions

Abstract

Various types of micro- and nanoarchitectures can be spontaneously fabricated using chemical reactions initiated by wet stamping (WETS) and propelled by diffusive transport of participating reagents. Desired small-scale structures emerge as a result of complex sequences of reaction-diffusion events. These events are encoded in the chemical kinetics and transport properties of the system's components, and in the system's geometry. With various types of chemistries and initial conditions imposed by WETS, it is possible to 'program' different fabrication tasks and make technologically useful structures, such as microlens arrays, microfluidic systems, diffractive elements, and supports for cell studies.