Closely spaced polymer microstructures as a unique tool for characterization at the small scales

The paper reports a method to characterize polymer microstructures whose characteristic dimensions are on the order of or less than a few micrometers. The closely spaced polymer microstructures with appropriate aspect ratios were fabricated. The interstructural collapse was introduced into these microstructures by evaporating the solution where the microstructures were immerged. The collapse was investigated using the Euler beam theory, and validated using optical measurements. The dynamic behaviors of unstable interstructural collapse were also investigated. By providing an approach with greatly reduced complexity and cost, this work is expected to help characterization of mechanical properties of the polymers microstructures at the small scales, especially those for mechanical sensing purposes.