Polymer Patterning with Self-Heating Atomic Force Microscope Probes.

ABSTRACT: Scanning probe-assisted patterning methods already demonstrated a high degree of capabilities on submicrometer scales. However, the throughput is still far from its potential because of complexity or fragility of the probes for exploiting thermal effects, chemical reactions, and voltage-induced processes in various patterning operations. Here, we present a new approach to thermomechanical patterning by implementing a multitasking atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe: the functionalized planar probes. In this method, we can generate a tunable thermal gradient between the tip and the sample, wherein they remain in the noncontact regime. In principle, the capillary instability provoked by the van der Waals interaction yields a pull-off force toward the tip. Hence, locally rising protrusions fo

SUBMITTER: Ciftci HT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6755611 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature