Nano-scale spatial control over surface morphology of biocompatible fluoropolymers at 157 nm

Specification of laser ablating parameters is important to fabricate biomolecule microarrays with enhanced sensitivity and speed. Optimum fabricated conditions occur when thin surface layers of biocompatible fluoropolymers, (poly(2,2,2-trifluoroethyl methacrylate),, were ablated with nano-scale spatial resolution using laser at 157 nm. The surface ablation efficiency, morphology, molecular dissociation within the polymer volume and other effects, such as the formation of nano-columns depend on the exposing conditions and the laser beam spot size. The efficiency of surface ablation for PTFEMA and Teflon AF was greatly reduced for laser beam dimensions below 10 and 50 μm respectively and for large beam spot sizes, > 50 μm, the ablative rate was 0.5 and 0.8 nm at 1 mJ/cm2 laser fluence respectively.