Rapid fabrication of nanoparticles array on polycarbonate membrane based on positive dielectrophoresis

We report here a rapid formation of island arrays with nanoparticles on and within polycarbonate (PC) membrane based on positive dielectrophoresis (p-DEP). For the fabrication of the patterning device, PC membranes with 10 μm thickness and 100, 200 or 400 nm pore size were sandwiched by an upper bare ITO substrate and a lower disk array ITO electrode which was defined by insulation layer of negative photoresist. A suspension of 190 nm diameter polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) particles containing rhodamine 6G (R6G) fluorescent molecules was introduced into the device between the upper ITO and the PC membrane. AC electric signal (typically 20 Vpp, 70 kHz) was then applied to the ITO, resulting in the formation of island patterns with high electric fields gradient regions on and in the PC membrane. Particles patterns with island shape were assembled on membrane within 1 s after applying AC electric field. The electrodes can be used repeatedly as the template of subsequent patterning. Although, particles islands were only formed on the PC membrane with 100 and 200 nm diameter pores, the particles penetrated the membrane with 400 nm pores to form patterns on the back surface. Since the strong electric fields were formed at the edges of disks, particles on the back surface were the projection of the disk array of ITO to form ring shapes. The unique structure with particles was explained based on the simulation of electric field distribution. The present proposal offers a procedure to fabricate particle arrays with extremely simple, rapid and highly reproducible manner.