Motion of nano-objects on polymer brushes

In this paper we review a new method to move nano-objects on a polymer surface that is made from diblock-copolymer and mixed brushes. Such brush systems consist of polymer chains covalently attached to a surface with high grafting density. If the two polymeric components the brush consists of are incompatible with each other, it shows microphase separation into nanopatterns of well defined size. Such a system possesses the unique property of changing the surface topography in response to different external conditions. Motion of nano objects adsorbed on the brush is induced by having the external conditions and thus the brush topography vary over time. This is shown by studying the distribution of silica nanoparticles adsorbed on several types of brushes while changing the external conditions. We identify parameters required for motion of nano objects, and discuss potential applications of the proposed technique for nano engineering.