Abstract

We investigate the nanometer-scale flow of molten polyethylene from a heated atomic force microscope (AFM) cantilever tip during thermal dip-pen nanolithography (tDPN). Polymer nanostructures were written for cantilever tip temperatures and substrate temperatures controlled over the range 100260°C and while the tip was either moving with speed 0.5-2.0μms -1 or stationary and heated for 0.1-100s. We find that polymer flow depends on surface capillary forces and not on shear between tip and substrate. The polymer mass flow rate is sensitive to the temperature-dependent polymer viscosity. The polymer flow is governed by thermal Marangoni forces and non-equilibrium wetting dynamics caused by a solidification front within the feature.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number215301
JournalNanotechnology
Volume23
Issue number21
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 1 2012

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Bioengineering
  • General Chemistry
  • General Materials Science
  • Mechanics of Materials
  • Mechanical Engineering
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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