Coulomb force directed single and binary assembly of nanoparticles from aqueous dispersions by AFM nanoxerography.

We present a simple protocol to obtain versatile assemblies of nanoparticles from aqueous dispersions onto charge patterns written by atomic force microscopy, on a 100 nm thin film of polymethylmethacrylate spin-coated on silicon wafers. This protocol of nanoxerography uses a two-stage development involving incubation of the desired aqueous colloidal dispersion on charge patterns and subsequent immersion in an adequate water-soluble alcohol. The whole process takes only a few minutes. Numerical simulations of the evolution of the electric field generated by charge patterns in various solvents are done to resolve the mechanism by which nanoparticle assembly occurs. The generic nature of this protocol is demonstrated by constructing various assemblies of charged organic/inorganic/metallic (latex, silica, gold) nanoparticles of different sizes (3 to 100 nm) and surface functionalities from aqueous dispersions onto charge patterns of complex geometries. We also demonstrate that it is possible to construct a binary assembly of nanoparticles on a pattern made of positive and negative charges generated in a single charge writing step, by sequential developments in two aqueous dispersions of oppositely charged particles. This protocol literally extends the spectra of eligible colloids that can be assembled by nanoxerography and paves the way for building complex assemblies of nanoparticles on predefined areas of surfaces, which could be useful for the elaboration of nanoparticle-based functional devices.

[1]  Haiou Qu,et al.  Water-dispersible iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles with versatile surface functionalities. , 2011, Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids.

[2]  L. Ressier,et al.  Tunable conductive nanoparticle wire arrays fabricated by convective self-assembly on nonpatterned substrates. , 2010, ACS nano.

[3]  J. Cole,et al.  Nanocontact electrification through forced delamination of dielectric interfaces. , 2010, ACS nano.

[4]  E. Palleau,et al.  Control of the catalytic properties and directed assembly on surfaces of MADIX/RAFT polymer-coated gold nanoparticles by tuning polymeric shell charge , 2010 .

[5]  Mianqi Xue,et al.  Selective discharge of electrostatic charges on electrets using a patterned hydrogel stamp. , 2010, Angewandte Chemie.

[6]  E. Palleau,et al.  Numerical simulations for a quantitative analysis of AFM electrostatic nanopatterning on PMMA by Kelvin force microscopy , 2010, Nanotechnology.

[7]  L. Czornomaz,et al.  Tunable pyramidal assemblies of nanoparticles by convective/capillary deposition on hydrophilic patterns made by AFM oxidation lithography. , 2010, Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids.

[8]  Mianqi Xue,et al.  Patterning of electrostatic charge on electrets using hot microcontact printing. , 2009, Angewandte Chemie.

[9]  E. Palleau,et al.  How to Control AFM Nanoxerography for the Templated Monolayered Assembly of 2 nm Colloidal Gold Nanoparticles , 2009, IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology.

[10]  G. Yi,et al.  Controlling the size and surface morphology of carboxylated polystyrene latex particles by ammonium hydroxide in emulsifier-free polymerization , 2009 .

[11]  T. Pons,et al.  Synthesis of Near-Infrared-Emitting, Water-Soluble CdTeSe/CdZnS Core/Shell Quantum Dots , 2009 .

[12]  L. Ressier,et al.  Electrostatic nanopatterning of PMMA by AFM charge writing for directed nano-assembly , 2008, Nanotechnology.

[13]  Peidong Yang,et al.  Shape Control of Colloidal Metal Nanocrystals , 2008 .

[14]  Theresa S. Mayer,et al.  Bottom-up assembly of large-area nanowire resonator arrays. , 2008, Nature nanotechnology.

[15]  Heinz Schmid,et al.  Controlled particle placement through convective and capillary assembly. , 2007, Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids.

[16]  Andreas Stemmer,et al.  Local surface charges direct the deposition of carbon nanotubes and fullerenes into nanoscale patterns. , 2007, Nano letters.

[17]  James E Hutchison,et al.  Toward greener nanosynthesis. , 2007, Chemical reviews.

[18]  A. Stemmer,et al.  Selective deposition of functionalized nano-objects by nanoxerography , 2007 .

[19]  C. Sorensen,et al.  Gram-scale synthesis of aqueous gold colloids stabilized by various ligands. , 2007, Journal of colloid and interface science.

[20]  D. Reinhoudt,et al.  Patterning the molecular printboard: patterning cyclodextrin monolayers on silicon oxide using nanoimprint lithography and its application in 3D multilayer nanostructuring , 2007 .

[21]  H. Jacobs,et al.  Fringing field directed assembly of nanomaterials. , 2006, Nano letters.

[22]  Templated Self‐Assembly of Colloidal Nanoparticles Controlled by Electrostatic Nanopatterning on a Si3N4/SiO2/Si Electret , 2006 .

[23]  Directed Assembly of Nanoparticles onto Polymer‐Imprinted or Chemically Patterned Templates Fabricated by Nanoimprint Lithography , 2005 .

[24]  A. Stemmer,et al.  Micro- and nanoxerography in liquids - controlling pattern definition , 2005 .

[25]  N. Seeman,et al.  DNA-Templated Self-Assembly of Metallic Nanocomponent Arrays on a Surface , 2004 .

[26]  Gunnar Glasser,et al.  Parameters influencing the templated growth of colloidal crystals on chemically patterned surfaces. , 2004, Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids.

[27]  Mikael T. Björk,et al.  Integration of Colloidal Nanocrystals into Lithographically Patterned Devices , 2004 .

[28]  Frank E. Osterloh,et al.  pH-Controlled Assembly and Disassembly of Electrostatically Linked CdSe−SiO2 and Au−SiO2 Nanoparticle Clusters , 2003 .

[29]  G. Glasser,et al.  Site‐Selective Growth of Colloidal Crystals with Photonic Properties on Chemically Patterned Surfaces , 2003 .

[30]  N. Shinya,et al.  Site-Controlled Deposition of Microsized Particles Using an Electrostatic Assembly , 2002 .

[31]  Heiko O. Jacobs,et al.  Approaching nanoxerography: The use of electrostatic forces to position nanoparticles with 100 nm scale resolution , 2002 .

[32]  A. Schmid,et al.  Template Guided Self-Assembly of [Au55] Clusters on Nanolithographically Defined Monolayer Patterns , 2002 .

[33]  J. Turkevich,et al.  Coagulation of Colloidal Gold , 2002 .

[34]  P. Hammond,et al.  Controlled cluster size in patterned particle arrays via directed adsorption on confined surfaces , 2002 .

[35]  A. Stemmer,et al.  Attaching silica nanoparticles from suspension onto surface charge patterns generated by a conductive atomic force microscope tip , 2001 .

[36]  Younan Xia,et al.  Template-assisted self-assembly: a practical route to complex aggregates of monodispersed colloids with well-defined sizes, shapes, and structures. , 2001, Journal of the American Chemical Society.

[37]  Catherine J. Murphy,et al.  Wet Chemical Synthesis of High Aspect Ratio Cylindrical Gold Nanorods , 2001 .

[38]  G. Whitesides,et al.  Submicrometer Patterning of Charge in Thin-Film Electrets , 2001, Science.

[39]  R. Howe,et al.  Microstructure to substrate self-assembly using capillary forces , 2001 .

[40]  N. Shinya,et al.  Assembling 100 nm Scale Particles by an Electrostatic Potential Field , 2001 .

[41]  G. Whitesides,et al.  Soft Lithography. , 1998, Angewandte Chemie.

[42]  J.J. Talghader,et al.  Integration of fluidically self-assembled optoelectronic devices using a silicon-based process , 1995, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[43]  H. Yeh,et al.  Fluidic self-assembly for the integration of GaAs light-emitting diodes on Si substrates , 1994, IEEE Photonics Technology Letters.

[44]  G. Frens.  Controlled Nucleation for the Regulation of the Particle Size in Monodisperse Gold Suspensions , 1973 .

[45]  W. Stöber,et al.  Controlled growth of monodisperse silica spheres in the micron size range , 1968 .

[46]  J. Hillier,et al.  A study of the nucleation and growth processes in the synthesis of colloidal gold , 1951 .