Experimental study of modulation in Au/PDMS wrinkle patterns by relief surfaces in PDMS substrates

A simple and efficient method based on the ultra-precision turning technique has beep introduced to modulate ordered herringbone wrinkle pattern in a gold thin film on a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) substrate. The ultra-precision turning technique was used to fabricate striped patterns on Al alloy samples which serve as hard masters to replicate reverse patterns in PDMS substrate surface. By ion sputtering, a gold thin film with 20-50 nm was deposited on patterned PDMS surface. Ordered wrinkle patterns formed due to interaction between wrinkle pattern and substrate pattern in cooling process. Experimental results indicate that herringbone wrinkle patterns could be successfully generated in Au films coated on patterned substrates. Experiment analysis demonstrates that coupling between substrate morphology and buckle pattern play a key role in formation of herringbone wrinkle.