Controlling Wrinkle Propagation in the Bilayer System with Thickness‐Gradient

Abstract In this paper, a novel strategy to control the orientation of nanowrinkles by applying a thickness‐gradient to a bilayer‐system is presented. Surface modification by plasma treatment on ultraviolet light‐curable polysiloxane‐based resin applies biaxial compressive strain, resulting in the formation of randomly oriented nanowrinkles over a large‐area. The thickness‐gradient of the resin, given by the meniscus formed between the groove made with patterned polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) after spin‐coating of the resin, directed wrinkle propagation. Given the propagation orientation, nanowrinkles were well aligned over a large‐area using a simple and accessible method.