Marangoni flow-induced self-assembly of hexagonal and stripelike nanoparticle patterns.

We have developed a simple Marangoni flow-induced method for self-assembling nanoparticles (NPs) into both hexagonal and stripelike patterns. First, a NPs/ethanol suspension was spread on a slightly nonwettable and a wettable silicon oxide substrate. The Marangoni flow, induced by simultaneous evaporation of ethanol and condensation of water, leads to the formation of the corresponding hexagonal distributed circular NP rings and dotted stripes. The inter-ring spacing and ring size of the hexagonal patterns can be tuned by varying the relative humidity of the N2 stream blown over the slightly nonwettable substrate. Hexagonal patterns of circular NP patches can also be fabricated by lowering the evaporation of the condensed water droplets. On the wettable substrate, complex patterns result when the humidity of the N2 stream changes.