Patent ID: 8888229

Claim:
A method for forming a layer, comprising: (a) dividing an underlayer surface into a grid having a plurality of sub-grids of equal size; (b) after step (a), disposing a first droplets to a corner of each sub-grid from an array defined by an x direction and a second y-direction on the underlayer surface; (c) after step (b), fixing the plurality of first droplets to the underlayer surface; (d) after step (c), disposing second droplets directly between adjacent first droplets in the x-direction so that the second droplets overlap adjacent first droplets in the x-direction and so that gaps devoid of droplets remain between adjacent first droplets in the y-direction and between adjacent second droplets in the y-direction; (e) after step (d), disposing third droplets directly between adjacent first droplets in the y-direction so that the third droplets overlap adjacent first droplets in the y-direction and so that gaps devoid of droplets remain between adjacent second droplets in the y-direction and between adjacent third droplets in the x-direction; and (f) after step (e), disposing fourth droplets directly between adjacent second droplets in the y-direction and between adjacent third droplets in the x-direction so that no gaps remain between the first, second, and third droplets, wherein lyophilicity is provided to the underlayer surface between steps (c) and (d).