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Complex dewetting scenarios captured by thin-film models

Nature Materials volume 2, pages 59–63 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

In the course of miniaturization of electronic and microfluidic devices, reliable predictions of the stability of ultrathin films have a strategic role for design purposes. Consequently, efficient computational techniques that allow for a direct comparison with experiment become increasingly important. Here we demonstrate, for the first time, that the full complex spatial and temporal evolution of the rupture of ultrathin films can be modelled in quantitative agreement with experiment. We accomplish this by combining highly controlled experiments on different film-rupture patterns with computer simulations using novel numerical schemes for thin-film equations. For the quantitative comparison of the pattern evolution in both experiment and simulation we introduce a novel pattern analysis method based on Minkowski measures. Our results are fundamental for the development of efficient tools capable of describing essential aspects of thin-film flow in technical systems.

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Figure 1: Dewetting morphology of a thin film.
Figure 2: Satellite holes.
Figure 3: Analysis by Minkowski measures.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Stephan Herminghaus for many stimulating discussions and Renate Konrad for help in calculating the Minkowski measures. This work was supported by the Priority Program Wetting and Structure Formation at Interfaces of the German Science Foundation through individual research grants to the participating groups. This program provided an ideal forum for the interaction of mathematicians, theoretical and experimental physicists which lead to this interdisciplinary work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Angewandte Mathematik, Universität Bonn, Beringstrasse 6, Bonn, D-53115, Germany

    Jürgen Becker & Günther Grün

  2. Abteilung Angewandte Physik, Universität Ulm, Ulm, D-89069, Germany

    Ralf Seemann, Hubert Mantz & Karin Jacobs

  3. Max-Planck-Institut für Metallforschung, Heisenbergstrasse 1, Stuttgart, D-70569, Germany

    Klaus R. Mecke

  4. Institut für Theoretische und Angewandte Physik, Universität Stuttgart, Pfaffenwaldring 57/VI, Stuttgart, D-70550, Germany

    Klaus R. Mecke

  5. Zentrum für Bioinformatik, Universität des Saarlandes, Im Stadtwald, Saarbrücken, D-66123, Germany

    Ralf Blossey

Authors
  1. Jürgen Becker
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  2. Günther Grün
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  3. Ralf Seemann
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  4. Hubert Mantz
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  5. Karin Jacobs
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  6. Klaus R. Mecke
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  7. Ralf Blossey
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Correspondence to Ralf Blossey.

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Becker, J., Grün, G., Seemann, R. et al. Complex dewetting scenarios captured by thin-film models. Nature Mater 2, 59–63 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1038/nmat788

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