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Reversible Photo-Induced Reshaping of Imprinted Microstructures Using a Low Molecular Azo Dye
Burhan Kaban1, Sekvan Bagatur2, Marcus Soter1
1Institute of Nanostructure Technologies and Analytics (INA) and Center for Interdisciplinary Nanostructure Science and Technology (CINSaT), University of Kassel, Heinrich-Plett-Straße 40, 34132 Kassel, Germany.
Abstract:
A blend of low molecular azo glass (AZOPD) and polystyrene (PS) were used for the systematic investigation of photo-induced stretching and recovery of nanoimprinted structures. For this purpose, light and heat was used as recovery stimuli. The AZOPD/PS microstructures, fabricated with thermal nanoimprint lithography (tNIL), comprises three different shapes (circles, crosses and squares) and various concentrations of AZOPD fractions. The results show a concentration-dependent reshaping. Particularly the sample with 43 w-% of the AZOPD fraction have shown the best controllable recovery for the used parameters. A possible explanation for shape recovery might be the stabilizing effect of the PS-matrix.

