Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026

Ultrahigh Density Array of Vertically Aligned Small-molecular Organic Nanowires on Arbitrary Substrates
Published on: June 18, 2013
Rigid, vapor-permeable poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne) templates for high resolution patterning of nanoparticles and
Michael T Demko1, Jim C Cheng, Albert P Pisano
1Berkeley Sensor & Actuator Center (BSAC), University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA. demko@berkeley.edu
Abstract:
Soft lithography methods are emerging as useful tools for high-resolution, three-dimensional patterning of polymers and nanoparticles. However, the low Young's modulus of the standard template material, poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS), limits attainable resolution, fidelity, and alignment capability. While much research has been performed to find other more rigid polymer template materials, the high solvent and vapor permeability that is characteristic of PDMS is often sacrificed, preventing their use in those processes reliant on this property. In this work, a highly rigid, chemically robust, optically transparent and vapor-permeable poly(4-methyl-2-pentyne) template is developed. The combination of high rigidity and high vapor permeability enables high resolution patterning with simplified ink handling. This material was nanopatterned to create a template for patterning polymers and nanoparticles, achieving a resolution of better than 350 nm.

