Preparation of Long-Range Ordered 1D Nanowire Arrays on PVP-Modified Hydrophobic Highly Adhesive Templates Using Conical Fiber Arrays.

Abstract

Suspended nanoscale one-dimensional (1D) arrays have attracted substantial interest due to their promising applications in nanodevice fabrication. In this study, we propose a novel strategy for fabricating precisely positioned, long-range ordered nanowire arrays by controlling the directional liquid transport of conical fiber arrays (CFAs) on asymmetrically modified silicon templates patterned with periodic spindle-shaped micropillars. The intrinsic properties of CFAs and the tailored wettability of silicon templates play critical roles in nanowire fabrication. CFAs generates quasi-unidirectional surface tension (F_γ), facilitating precise control over the retraction of liquid films and ensuring strict nanowire alignment in the dewetting direction. Meanwhile, high-adhesion hydrophobic surfaces effectively enhance the pinning behavior of the three-phase contact line during the retraction process, thereby improving the liquid bridge stability. It is noteworthy that the method developed for preparing high-yield arrays of ultralong nanowires exhibits remarkable universality. This approach can be widely applied to the synthesis of suspended nanowires using diverse polymers such as polystyrene sulfonic acid, poly(vinyl alcohol), polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyethylene glycol, and sodium alginate as solutes, achieving a robust formation rate exceeding 80% for nanowires that surpass 16 μm in length. These findings contribute valuable knowledge for the scalable production of suspended 1D nanostructures, furthering advancements in nanoscale device development.