Driving forces of the solute self-organization in an evaporating liquid microdroplet

A method is proposed for preparing solid phases of desired morphologies from microscopic droplets on solid substrates with a GMS 417 Arrayer, which is commonly used for biochip production. The initial droplet of an aqueous solution is about 100 pl (about 100 mu m in diameter), and the evaporation time is about 0.5 s. Such small solution volumes are first considered from the viewpoint of the solute self-organization. Aqueous solutions of inorganic molecular and ionic substances, organic dyes, and latex colloid particles in the evaporating droplets are experimentally studied. Various substrates and solute concentrations are used. The morphology of the solid phase formed on the substrate after water evaporation is analyzed with the use of computer simulation of dynamics of the latex particles within the evaporating microdroplet. Elucidating the self-organization mechanisms will facilitate producing of the desired morphology of the solid phase, which can find an application in nanotechnology. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.