Nano meets macro: Furnishing the surface of polymer molds with gold‐nanoparticle arrays

Abstract

Abstract The formation of well‐defined, functional surfaces that incorporate the unique properties of inorganic nanoparticles (NPs) requires robust and scalable fabrication strategies. Herein, we report a methodology for the decoration of polymer molds with plasmonic (gold) nanoparticle arrays. Wrinkled soft templates were used to assemble gold NPs (74 nm) into line arrays. These pre‐formed nanoparticle arrays were transferred in a subsequent step onto polycarbonate molds via an injection molding process. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the structural fidelity of the pattern structure upon transfer. The preservation of the optical functionality of the gold nanoparticle line arrays was proven by surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) experiments. The reported strategy of nanoparticle pattern transfer to polymer bodies by this robust process is expected to prove useful for the fabrication of polymer surfaces with tailored optical functionality.

Keywords

• injection molding
• nanopatterned polymer surfaces
• plasmonic nanoparticles
• surface‐enhanced Raman scattering
• template‐assisted assembly