Nanocontact electrification through forced delamination of dielectric interfaces

ACS Nano. 2010 Dec 28;4(12):7492-8. doi: 10.1021/nn1016692. Epub 2010 Oct 25.

Abstract

This article reports patterned transfer of charge between conformal material interfaces through a concept referred to as nanocontact electrification. Nanocontacts of different size and shape are formed between surface-functionalized polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamps and other dielectric materials (PMMA, SiO(2)). Forced delamination and cleavage of the interface yields a well-defined charge pattern with a minimal feature size of 100 nm. The process produces charged surfaces and associated fields that exceed the breakdown strength of air, leading to strong long-range adhesive forces and force-distance curves, which are recorded over macroscopic distances. The process is applied to fabricate charge-patterned surfaces for nanoxerography demonstrating 200 nm resolution nanoparticle prints and applied to thin film electronics where the patterned charges are used to shift the threshold voltages of underlying transistors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.