A cantilever-free approach to dot-matrix nanoprinting

Keith A. Brown, Daniel J. Eichelsdoerfer, Wooyoung Shim, Boris Rasin, Boya Radha, Xing Liao, Abrin L. Schmucker, Guoliang Liu, Chad A. Mirkin*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

33 Scopus citations

Abstract

Scanning probe lithography (SPL) is a promising candidate approach for desktop nanofabrication, but trade-offs in throughput, cost, and resolution have limited its application. The recent development of cantilever-free scanning probe arrays has allowed researchers to define nanoscale patterns in a low-cost and high-resolution format, but with the limitation that these are duplication tools where each probe in the array creates a copy of a single pattern. Here, we report a cantilever-free SPL architecture that can generate 100 nanometerscale molecular features using a 2D array of independently actuated probes. To physically actuate a probe, local heating is used to thermally expand the elastomeric film beneath a single probe, bringing it into contact with the patterning surface. Not only is this architecture simple and scalable, but it addresses fundamental limitations of 2D SPL by allowing one to compensate for unavoidable imperfections in the system. This cantilever-free dot-matrix nanoprinting will enable the construction of surfaces with chemical functionality that is tuned across the nano- and macroscales.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)12921-12924
Number of pages4
JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
Volume110
Issue number32
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 6 2013

Keywords

  • Nanofabrication
  • Polymer pen lithography
  • Soft microelectromechanical systems
  • Thermal actuation

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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