Origami Inspired Self-assembly of Patterned and Reconfigurable Particles

Shivendra Pandey¹, Evin Gultepe¹, David H. Gracias^1,2

¹Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University, ²Department of Chemistry, The Johns Hopkins University

There are numerous techniques such as photolithography, electron-beam lithography and soft-lithography that can be used to precisely pattern two dimensional (2D) structures. These technologies are mature, offer high precision and many of them can be implemented in a high-throughput manner. We leverage the advantages of planar lithography and combine them with self-folding methods^1-20 wherein physical forces derived from surface tension or residual stress, are used to curve or fold planar structures into three dimensional (3D) structures. In doing so, we make it possible to mass produce precisely patterned static and reconfigurable particles that are challenging to synthesize.