title: Phase of molecular ink in nanoscale direct deposition processes.
abstract: We report the first observation of a phase transition in a nanoscale direct deposition process. This transition involves the melting of molecular ink layers in dip-pen nanolithography, and it is observed by measuring the temperature dependence of the growth rate of the deposited pattern. The results are interpreted using a diffusion equation approach in conjunction with a "double-molecular-layer" model of the adsorbed molecules on the atomic force microscope tip. The theory provides a qualitative explanation for the dependence of the pattern growth rate on solvent and adsorbed water as well as on temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, Seoul National University, Kwanak-Ku, Shilim-Dong, Seoul 151-747, Korea.
authors.forename: Narae
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.forename: Seol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ryu
authors.forename: Byeongju
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Schatz
authors.forename: Seunghun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000327:Adsorption; D002627:Chemistry, Physical / Q000379:methods*; D004058:Diffusion; D004867:Equipment Design; D007281:Ink; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015233:Models, Statistical; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D053758:Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors