title: Novel, highly selective gold nanoparticle patterning on surfaces using pure water.
abstract: We present a simple, novel procedure to selectively deposit gold nanoparticles using pure water. It enables patterning of nanoparticle monolayers with a remarkably high degree of selectivity on flat as well as microstructured oxide surfaces. We demonstrate that water molecules form a thin "capping" layer on exposed thiol molecules within the mercaptan self-assembled layer. This reversible capping of water molecules locally "deactivates" the thiol groups, therewith inhibiting the binding of metallic gold nanoparticles to these specific areas. This amazing role of water molecules can be used as a tool to pattern flat as well as structured surfaces with gold nanoparticles.
authors.affiliation: Physics of Interfaces and Nanomaterials, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Twente, PO Box 217, 7500 AE Enschede, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Muhammad Akram
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Raza
authors.forename: E Stefan
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kooij
authors.forename: Arend
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: van Silfhout
authors.forename: Harold J W
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Zandvliet
authors.forename: Bene
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Poelsema