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Nano Courses

A repository of courses and units are available for instructors who want to incorporate NSE into their existing course or desire to create a new course. Each Nanocourse or unit contains an introduction, main concepts, notes, lectures and accompanying homework assignments or in-class activities. All materials on the NanoEd Resource Portal are peer-managed and covered by a creative-commons attribution, non-commercial share-alike type licensing.

 
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What Can Electrons Do? - Electron Microscopy
J.G. Zheng and
Prof. V.P. Dravid
Northwestern University, IL, USA


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Unconventional Patterning at the Nanoscale    »» Main Menu


SOFT LITHOGRAPHY

» Molding - Replica Molding (RM)
» Molding - Micromolding in Capillaries (MIMIC)  
» Molding - Solvent-Assisted Micromolding (SAMIM)  


Molding - Micromolding in Capillaries (MIMIC)

MIMIC is a simple, convenient method to fabricate three-dimensional micro/nano structures of polymers, ceramics, etc. The techinque is based on the spontaneous filling of capillaries formed between two surfaces in conformal contact, at least one of which has a recessed relief structure, by a fluid. The fluid may be a liquid prepolymer or suspension of materials to be formed.

MATERIALS:

  • Patterned PDMS mold
  • UV Lamp
  • Prepolymer Polyurethane
  • Sharp scalpel, Razor blade, Glass slides

PROCEDURE: (Click on pictures to view the videos)

*You will need QuickTime Player installed on your computer to view the videos.
  Download Player: For Mac | For PC

mimic1

Using a fresh blade on your scalpel, cut out a stamp that is patterned with lines. Determine which direction the lines are running.

 
mimic2

Clean four glass slides using soap and water, and then rinse them with ethanol. Dry under a stream of nitrogen.

 
mimic3

With a new razor blade, press down vertically on the ends of the stamps that are perpendicular to the direction the lines are running.

 
mimic4

Place the patterned side face down onto your clean glass slide.

 
mimic5

Place a drop of prepolymer Polyurethane at the open end and wait 10-15 minutes while the channels fill by capillary action.

 
mimic6

Place the samples 10 cm under a UV lamp and cure the polymer for 5 minutes. Remove the PDMS stamp

 
mimic7

Remove the PDMS stamp. You should be able to see the diffraction pattern on the surface. If you do not see the diffraction pattern, you may have to start over using a dessicator to help fill the capillaries. Image the glass slide under the AFM.

 

QUESTIONS:

» See the Replica Molding Section.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Authors:
Prof. Teri W. Odom,
Dr. M. Viswanathan and Y. Babayan

Institution:
Northwestern University
Evanston, IL USA

Level:
College and above

In the classroom:
This Course is a video lab manual for hands on fabrication and characterization of materials at the nanoscale. Materials requirements range from simple chemicals, benchtop tools and CDs to necessary access to advanced characterization equipment such as an Scanning Tunneling Microscope.