title: Organization of nanoparticles on hard substrates using block copolymer films as templates.
abstract: We present a technique for the organization of pre-synthesized nanoparticles on hard substrates, using block copolymer films as sacrificial templates. A thin block copolymer film is dip-coated on the substrate of interest and the sample is exposed to a solution containing nanoparticles. Spontaneous preferential adsorption of the nanoparticles on one phase of the block copolymer film results in their lateral organization. An oxygen plasma etch is used to remove the polymer film; the nanoparticles end up organized on the substrate. We demonstrate that this is a general approach for the patterning of inorganic nanoparticles on hard substrates, showing the organization of metal and semiconductor nanoparticles having different chemistries at the particle/solvent and solvent/polymer interfaces. The nanoparticle patterns that we present have typical periodicities in the nanometer scale. In some cases, microcontact printing is used to create a double length scale of organization, on the micrometer and on the nanometer level. The characteristic periodicity of the template is studied with respect to the nanoparticle size in order to optimize the organization. Finally, we describe how to extend this technique for the production of continuous gold nanowires on hard substrates. We expect that the flexibility of this approach and the degree of control that can be obtained over nanoparticle organization should make it a powerful tool for nanoscale fabrication.
authors.affiliation: Centre Suisse d'Electronique et de Microtechnique CSEM SA, Jaquet Droz 1, 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Minelli
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Geissbuehler
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hinderling
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Heinzelmann
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vogel
authors.forename: Raphael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pugin
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Liley
mesh_terms: D019187:Cadmium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000737:chemistry; D006046:Gold / Q000737:chemistry; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods; D010316:Particle Size; D011137:Polystyrenes / Q000737:chemistry; D011145:Polyvinyls / Q000737:chemistry; D018036:Selenium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D019187:Cadmium Compounds; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D011137:Polystyrenes; D011145:Polyvinyls; D018036:Selenium Compounds; D006046:Gold; C058667:cadmium selenide