Using self-assembly for the fabrication of nano-scale electronic and photonic devices

Abstract

Abstract-Challenges facing the scaling of microelectronics to sub-50 nm dimensions and the demanding material and structural requirements of integrated photonic and microelectromechanical systems suggest that alternative fabrication technologies are needed to produce nano-scale devices. Inspired by complex, functional, self-assembled structures and systems found in Nature we suggest that self-assembly can be employed as an effective tool for nanofabrication. We define a self-assembling system as one in which the elements of the system interact in pre-defined ways to spontaneously generate a higher order structure. Self-assembly is a parallel fabrication process that, at the molecular level, can generate three-dimensional structures with sub-nanometer precision. Guiding the process of self-assembly by external forces and geometrical constrains can reconfigure a system dynamically on demand. We survey some of the recent applications of self-assembly for nanofabrication of electronic and photonic devices. Five self-assembling systems are discussed: 1) self-assembled molecular monolayers; 2) self-assembly in supramolecular chemistry; 3) self-assembly of nanocrystals and nanowires; 4) self-assembly of phase-separated block copolymers; 5) colloidal self-assembly. These techniques can generate features ranging in size from a few angstroms to a few microns. We conclude with a discussion of the limitations and challenges facing self-assembly and some potential directions along which the development of self-assembly as a nanofabrication technology may proceed.

Analysis of Supramolecular Complexes of 3-Methylxanthine with Field Asymmetric Waveform Ion Mobility Spectrometry Combined with Mass Spectrometry

“…S elf-assembling supramolecular complexes of simple molecules are of interest in a wide variety of fields [1], including structural biology [2], self-assembling membranes [3], therapeutic delivery systems [4], nanostructures [5][6][7], electrochemistry [8], and supramolecular technology [9]. 3-Methylxanthine (3-MX) is an example of a small molecule that can form stable noncovalently bound supramolecular complexes in the gas phase [10].…”

Metal microneedle fabrication using twisted light with spin

“…We also demonstrate the fabrication of a two-dimensional 5 × 6 microneedle array. Such arrays fabricated by twisted light laser ablation with high cost efficiency could provide a next-generation technology for high-speed two-dimensional imaging systems at nanoscales [11][12][13], for energy-saving field emission displays [14], for plasmonic probes [15], for bio-medical nano electro-mechanical systems [16] or for living cell cages [17].…”

Recent advances in nanorobotic manipulation inside scanning electron microscopes

“…The top-down approaches typically employ techniques such as X-ray electron beam lithography and nanoimprint lithography [8][9][10] . Bottom-up techniques, such as selfassembly, chemical synthesis or super-molecule techniques 11,12 , are driven by the tendency of physical systems to minimize their potential energy. These techniques enable the construction of structures and devices via the direct assembly of atoms and molecules; however, modifying specific locations to adjust the device properties can be challenging.…”