Aizenberg, JoannaKang, Sung2012-09-182012-09-182012Kang, Sung Hoon. 2012. Self-Organization of Bioinspired Fibrous Surfaces. Doctoral dissertation, Harvard University.http://dissertations.umi.com/gsas.harvard:10128http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:9572088Nature uses fibrous surfaces for a wide range of functions such as sensing, adhesion, structural color, and self-cleaning. However, little is known about how fiber properties enable them to self-organize into diverse and complex functional forms. Using polymeric micro/nanofiber arrays with tunable properties as model systems, we demonstrate how the combination of mechanical and surface properties can be harnessed to transform an array of anchored nanofibers into a variety of complex, hierarchically organized dynamic functional surfaces. We show that the delicate balance between fiber elasticity and surface adhesion plays a critical role in determining the shape, chirality, and hierarchy of the assembled structures. We further report a strategy for controlling the long-range order of fiber assemblies by manipulating the shape and movement of the liquid-vapor interface. Our study provides fundamental understanding of the pattern formation by self-organization of bioinspired fibrous surfaces. Moreover, our new strategies offer a foundation for designing a vast assortment of functional surfaces with adhesive, optical, water-repellent, capture and release, and many more capabilities with the structural and dynamic sophistication of their biological counterparts.en-USbioinspiredchiralityliquid-solid interactionpattern formationself-organizationnanosciencephysicsmaterials sciencemicrostructured materialnanostructured materialThesis or Dissertation2012-12-18