Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 12, 2025
Fabrication of Gradient Nanopattern by Thermal Nanoimprinting Technique and Screening of the Response of Human Endothelial Colony-forming Cells
Published on: July 1, 2018
Nanoporous aluminum oxide micropatterns prepared by hydrogel templating
Zimei Chen1, Dirk Kuckling, Michael Tiemann
1Department of Chemistry - Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, Paderborn University, Paderborn, Germany. Department of Chemistry - Inorganic Functional Materials, Paderborn University, Paderborn, Germany.
Abstract:
Micropatterned nanoporous aluminum oxide arrays are prepared on silicon wafer substrates by using photopolymerized poly(dimethylacrylamide) hydrogels as porogenic matrices. Hydrogel micropatterns are fabricated by spreading the prepolymer mixture on the substrate, followed by UV photopolymerization through a micropatterned mask. The hydrogel is covalently bonded to the substrate surface. Al2O3 is produced by swelling the hydrogel in a saturated aluminum nitrate solution and subsequent thermal conversion/calcination. As a result, micropatterned porous Al2O3 microdots with heights in µm range and large specific surface areas up to 274 m2 g-1 are obtained. Hence, the hydrogel fulfills a dual templating function, namely micropatterning and nanoporosity generation. The impact of varying the photopolymerization time on the properties of the products is studied. Samples are characterized by light and confocal laser scanning microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometry, and Kr physisorption analysis.
