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Updated: May 13, 2026
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One-Step Approach to Fabricating Polydimethylsiloxane Microfluidic Channels of Different Geometric Sections by Sequential Wet Etching Processes
Published on: September 13, 2018
A simple method for fabricating patterned curvilinear microstructures in poly(dimethylsiloxane) by selective wetting.
1State Key Laboratory of Electroanalytical Chemistry, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin 130022, People's Republic of China.
Summary
Researchers developed a simple three-stage method to create advanced poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamps for soft lithography. This technique enables the fabrication of complex microstructures without specialized microfabrication facilities.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Microfabrication
- Polymer Science
Background:
- Soft lithography relies on patterned microstructures in poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS).
- Existing methods for creating PDMS stamps can be limited by accessibility to microfabrication facilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simple, accessible method for fabricating advanced PDMS stamps with curvilinear surface relief microstructures.
- To enable the generation of novel micropatterns not achievable with standard PDMS stamps.
Main Methods:
- A three-stage approach combining microcontact printing (μCP), selective surface wetting/dewetting, and replica molding (REM).
- Utilized hexadecanethiol (HDT) ink for chemical patterning on a gold substrate via μCP.
- Employed dip-coating with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to form ordered polymer dots.
- Fabricated second-generation PDMS stamps with microcavity arrays and subsequently third-generation stamps with microbump arrays via REM.
Main Results:
- Successfully fabricated PDMS stamps with microcavity and microbump arrays.
- These new-generation stamps enabled the generation of complex surface micropatterns.
- Demonstrated utility in μCP and micromolding in capillaries (MIMIC).
Conclusions:
- The presented method offers a straightforward pathway to produce advanced PDMS stamps for soft lithography.
- This technique is particularly valuable for researchers lacking access to microfabrication facilities.
- Facilitates the creation of novel microstructures for diverse applications.
