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Interfaces are everywhere in our world: some exist between different states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) or between different compositions of the same or different state. Interfacial functionality defines what processes take place at an interface, or in many cases which are inhibited. Functionality may be constant across the full extent of an interface determining such factors as the long-term stability of that interface during the life cycle of a product or piece of manufacturing equipment. Alternatively, functionality may be engineered spatially to manage a process differentially across a surface. Understanding and controlling the physical, optical, electronic, and chemical properties of interfaces that determine functionality, at macroscopic as well as atomic scales, impacts virtually every product and process of interest to Kodak.
Surface reactivity is one important aspect of interfacial functionality influencing a surface's ability to bond, be passivated, or catalyze reactions. In some cases these functionalities need to be switched on and off at various times in the manufacturing cycle or product usage. Often functionality is global across an entire surface while in others it is useful to engineer the properties with a well-defined spatial pattern. For example, patterning surface functionality can be used to direct the flow of materials in a fluidic device or direct an atomic level deposition process.
Electronic and optical properties of interfaces are areas of importance at Kodak. The ability to control passage of an electron or photon flux across an interface is critical to efficient device operation. In some cases the interface is required to be "transparent" allowing uninhibited passage while in others barrier functionality is required to confine and direct flow efficiently. Control of these functionalities depends on atomic as well as micro or nano scale ordered structures.
A continuing drive for device miniaturization combined with interfacial functionality requiring micro and nano structures calls for new fabrication tools. Self-assembly at the molecular level driven by surface functionality and molecular design can achieve micro and nano scale structures with long-range order with exceptional simplicity and efficiency. These ordered structures may directly produce the functionality of interest or serve as a template for a subsequent process step.
There is a broad range of processes and interfacial properties that are determined at the atomic and molecular scale. Although originating at sub-micron dimensions, the results may have spatial order at much larger dimensions and continue uninterrupted over large expanses. We actively employ a wide range of state-of-the-art measurement and modeling tools to study these effects at the mechanistic level to direct optimization and implementation.
