Specific immobilization of nanospheres on template fabricated by using atomic force microscope lithography

The atomic force microscope (AFM) lithography was locally applied to the methyl group-modified substrate and selective immobilization of polystyrene (PS) nanospheres onto an anchored self-assembled monolayer was successfully carried out. In order to immobilize PS nanospheres on the rigid surface selectively, the patterned area was further modified with amine group by self-assembly process. The PS nanospheres modified with carboxylic acid group were selectively immobilized by the covalent bond onto the amine-modified area. The immobilized polystyrene nanospheres were characterized by a tapping mode AFM and ellipsometry.