Supramolecular Multilayered Templates for Fabricating Nanometer-Precise Spacings: Implications for the Next-Generation of Devices Integrating Nanogap/Nanochannel Components

ACS Applied Nano Materials, vol. 3, pp. 10586–10590

Abstract

Molecular transistors, electromagnetic waveguides, plasmonic devices, and novel generations of nanofluidic channels comprise precisely separated gaps of nanometric and subnanometric spacing. Nonetheless, fabricating a nanogap/nanochannel is a technological challenge, currently tackled by several approaches such as breakdown electromigration and lithography. The aforementioned techniques, though, are limited, respectively, in terms of gap stability and ultimate resolution. Here, nanogaps/nanochannels are templated via the microtomy of metallic thin films embedded in a polymer matrix and precisely separated by a nanometric, sacrificial layer of polyelectrolytes grown via the layer-by-layer (LbL) approach. The versatility of the LbL technique, both in terms of the number of layers and composition of polyelectrolytes, allows to finely tune the spacing across the gap; the LbL template can further be removed by plasma etching. Our findings pave the path toward the realization of molecularly defined functional spacings at the nanometer-scale for the modular implementation of devices integrating nanogap/nanochannel components.

Authors 7

1. Hadi Arjmandi‐Tash Aachen Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University , , Einsteinweg 55 , ,

   Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands

2. Pauline M. G. van Deursen Aachen Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University , , Einsteinweg 55 , ,

   Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands

3. Amedeo Bellunato Aachen Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University , , Einsteinweg 55 , ,

   Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands

4. Clarisse de Sere Aachen Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University , , Einsteinweg 55 , ,

   Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands

5. Zhanna Overchenko Aachen Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University , , Einsteinweg 55 , ,

   Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands

6. Karthick Babu Sai Sankar Gupta Aachen Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University , , Einsteinweg 55 , ,

   Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands

7. Grégory F. Schneider corresponding Aachen Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University

   Leiden University

   Affiliation as printed

   Leiden University , , Einsteinweg 55 , ,

   Faculty of Science, Leiden Institute of Chemistry, Leiden University, Einsteinweg 55, 2333CC Leiden, The Netherlands