Nanolithography with molecules using advanced scanning probe microscopy methods

Abstract: The possibilities of novel catalytic scanning probe lithography (cSPL) on starch using α-amylase was investigated. For this thin homogeneous layers of starch with good coverage were prepared by spin coating a starch solution on a silicon base. Amylase immobilized to an atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever tip were prepared and dragged along a spin coated starch surface. This after verifying the enzyme immobilization method using (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) on a silicon surface. In addition an unmodified cantilever tip were dipped in amylase solution and were dragged along a starch surface to investigate possibilities of dip-pen nanolithography (DPN). The preliminary experiments with AFM based enzymatic lithography were promising but non-conclusive. There are still many parameters not fully explored such as water availability, activity and reach of the amylase, speed of the enzymatic process and difference in structure between the starch and the shorter saccharides that are left after the hydrolysis