Breath-Figure Self-Assembly, a Versatile Method of Manufacturing Functional Polymer Surfaces

The chapter is devoted to the physical, chemical, and technological aspects of the breath-figure self-assembly process. The main stages of the process and the impact of the polymer architecture and physical parameters of breath-figure self-assembly on the eventual pattern are covered. The characteristic spatial lateral scales of patterns vary from nanometers to dozens of micrometers. The temporal scale of the process spans from microseconds to seconds. The qualitative analysis performed in the chapter demonstrates that the process is mainly governed by interfacial phenomena, whereas the impact of inertia and gravity is negligible. The characterization and applications of polymer films produced by self-assembly of breath-figures are discussed.