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 language | English (US) |
---|---|
Article number | 215301 |
Journal | Nanotechnology |
Volume | 23 |
Issue number | 21 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jun 1 2012 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Bioengineering
- General Chemistry
- General Materials Science
- Mechanics of Materials
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering