Fabrication of nano pyramid texture on Ti-6Al-4V using nanosphere lithography

Nanosphere lithography is a widely used technique for nanofabrication, due to its simple, effective, and inexpensive nature. This study presents the use of nanosphere lithography to produce nano-textured surfaces on Ti-6Al-4V. The effect of nanosphere diameter on the resulting nano-texture was tested by using two nanosphere diameters: 1 µm and 750 nm. Nanospheres were assembled into two substrate surfaces, and target material deposited using vapour deposition. The nanosphere mask was then removed to reveal nanopatterns on substrate surfaces. In general, samples that used a smaller nanosphere diameter produced sharper, more refined and consistent nanostructures, in comparison to samples tested with a larger nanosphere diameter. The results show successful fabrication of consistent and uniform arrays on different substrates. Ti-6Al-4V substrates allowed fabrication of nano pyramids, however these were not as uniform as glass, and more research needs to be completed to investigate the interaction between nanospheres and substrate material, and in forming more uniformly ordered arrays on Ti-6Al-4V. Consistency of nanopyramids can be improved by gaining more control over the nanospheres during mask the mask preparation stage. In addition, refining the nanoparticles can be achieved by using secondary processes, such as reaction ion etching. With further investigation and testing, this method, and study, may have applications in producing antibacterial surfaces, and reducing adhesion of bacterial cells to orthopaedic implant surfaces.