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Limits to Nanopatterning of Fluids on Surfaces in Soft Lithography
Author(s) -
Wigenius Jens A.,
Hamedi Mahiar,
Inganäs Olle
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
advanced functional materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.069
H-Index - 322
eISSN - 1616-3028
pISSN - 1616-301X
DOI - 10.1002/adfm.200800073
Subject(s) - materials science , polydimethylsiloxane , soft lithography , nanoimprint lithography , pdms stamp , lithography , nanotechnology , elastomer , ellipsometry , microcontact printing , photolithography , composite material , optoelectronics , thin film , fabrication , medicine , alternative medicine , pathology
Soft lithographic microcontact printing using the residual polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) found in elastomeric PDMS stamps is demonstrated to lead to unstable prints with sub‐micrometer dimensions. The statics and dynamics of the process have been followed with time‐resolved atomic force microscopy, imaging ellipsometry, water contact angle measurement, and optical diffraction. It is proposed that this instability places a fundamental limitation on patterning by macromolecular fluids, which is of general relevance to soft lithography and nanoimprint lithography with low viscosity polymers.