Assembly of charged nanoparticles by self - electrodynamic focusing

We demonstrate a self-assembly process of charged metallic or semiconducting nanoparticles on silicon substrates using conventional photoresist patterning. The self-assembly of nanoparticles is mainly due to a self-electric focusing effect created by the electric field of charged nanoparticles landed on the photoresist patterns. The detailed parameters that affect the focusing effect are investigated both experimentally and theoretically using Monte Carlo simulations. The presented technique is a simple and effective method for the fabrication of patterned nanoparticle lines made from different materials.