Filipiak David J, Azam Anum, Leong Timothy G, Gracias David H
Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218.
J Micromech Microeng. 2009 Jul 1;19(7):1-6. doi: 10.1088/0960-1317/19/7/075012.
The concept of self-assembly of a two-dimensional (2D) template to a three-dimensional (3D) structure has been suggested as a strategy to enable highly parallel fabrication of complex, patterned microstructures. We have previously studied the surface tension based self-assembly of patterned, microscale polyhedral containers (cubes, square pyramids and tetrahedral frusta). In this paper, we describe the observed hierarchical self-assembly of more complex, patterned polyhedral containers in the form of regular dodecahedra and octahedra. The hierarchical design methodology, combined with the use of self-correction mechanisms, was found to greatly reduce the propagation of self-assembly error that occurs in these more complex systems. It is a highly effective way to mass-produce patterned, complex 3D structures on the microscale and could also facilitate encapsulation of cargo in a parallel and cost-effective manner. Furthermore, the behavior that we have observed may be useful in the assembly of complex systems with large numbers of components.
二维（2D）模板自组装成三维（3D）结构的概念已被提出，作为一种实现复杂图案化微结构高度并行制造的策略。我们之前研究了基于表面张力的图案化微尺度多面体容器（立方体、方锥和截头四面体）的自组装。在本文中，我们描述了观察到的以正十二面体和八面体形式存在的更复杂图案化多面体容器的分层自组装。发现分层设计方法与自校正机制的结合，能大大减少这些更复杂系统中发生的自组装误差的传播。这是在微尺度上大规模生产图案化复杂3D结构的一种高效方法，还能以并行且经济高效的方式促进货物封装。此外，我们观察到的行为可能对大量组件的复杂系统的组装有用。
