title: Evidence of meniscus interface transport in dip-pen nanolithography: An annular diffusion model.
abstract: Ring shaped dots were patterned with mercaptohexadecanoic acid ink by dip-pen nanolithography. These dots have an ink-free inner core surrounded by an inked annular region, making them different from the filled dots usually obtained. This suggests a different transport mechanism than the current hypothesis of bulk water meniscus transport. A meniscus interface ink transport model is proposed, and its general applicability is demonstrated by predicting the patterned dot radii of chemically diverse inks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas Tech University, 6th Street and Canton, Lubbock, Texas 79409, USA.
authors.forename: Omkar A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Nafday
authors.forename: Mark W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Vaughn
authors.forename: Brandon L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Weeks