Patterned macro-/microstructures based on colloidal droplets evaporation

Deposition of evaporative colloidal droplets provides a low-cost, simple, effective and versatile way to achieve desired macro-/microstructures and patterns, based on the self-assembly of colloidal particles. In this article, fundamentals on the evaporation of an isolated sessile colloidal droplet on a solid substrate and the coalescence of the droplets are discussed. Then the strategies of fabricating patterned macro-/microstructures based on colloidal droplets evaporation are introduced. We focus on the flow patterns and interfacial interactions, including the interactions between droplet and substrate, particle and substrate, particle and liquid-vapor interface, particle and particle, droplet and droplet. Main factors influencing the deposition patterns, such as wettability, temperature, surfactant, solvent, charge, particle shape, etc., are discussed.