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Capillary Origami with Atomically Thin Membranes

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

M.F. Reynolds
K.L. McGill
M.A. Wang
H. Gao
F. Mujid
K. Kang
J. Park
M.Z. Miskin
Itai Cohen
P.L. McEuen

Abstract

Small-scale optical and mechanical components and machines require control over three-dimensional structure at the microscale. Inspired by the analogy between paper and two-dimensional materials, origami-style folding of atomically thin materials offers a promising approach for making microscale structures from the thinnest possible sheets. In this Letter, we show that a monolayer of molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) can be folded into three-dimensional shapes by a technique called capillary origami, in which the surface tension of a droplet drives the folding of a thin sheet. We define shape nets by patterning rigid metal panels connected by MoS2 hinges, allowing us to fold micron-scale polyhedrons. Finally, we demonstrate that these shapes can be folded in parallel without the use of micropipettes or microfluidics by means of a microemulsion of droplets that dissolves into the bulk solution to drive folding. These results demonstrate controllable folding of the thinnest possible materials using capillary origami and indicate a route forward for design and parallel fabrication of more complex three-dimensional micron-scale structures and machines. Copyright © 2019 American Chemical Society.

Date Published

Journal

Nano Letters

Volume

19

Issue

9

Number of Pages

6221-6226,

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85072133171&doi=10.1021%2facs.nanolett.9b02281&partnerID=40&md5=112f2c3df321aec15b3511c7d3553e04

DOI

10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b02281

Research Area

Group (Lab)

Itai Cohen Group
Paul McEuen Group

Funding Source

DMR-1719875
DMR-1539918
NSF DMR-1420709
1719875
NNCI-1542081
FA9550-16-1-0031
DGE-1746045
DMR-1757420

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