Facile Patterning of Periodic Arrays of Metal Oxides

Fabrication of a periodic array of anatase wires/dots (see figure) is demonstrated using simple laboratory equipment without the use of high vacuum or chemical vapor deposition. Nanoparticles of TiO2 are selectively confined in the troughs of microstructured surface-relief patterns on polymer films using electrostatic layer-by-layer deposition. Nanopatterning and sintering of anatase is achieved by pyrolyzing the polymer films in air.