Patterning nanoparticles by microcontact printing and further growth of one-dimensional nanomaterials

Abstract

A general method for patterning various functional inorganic nanomaterials on SiOx/Si substrates by using microcontact printing (μCP) was developed. The application of hydrophobic poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) stamps is essential for the reproducibility of this process. By tuning the concentration of the nanoparticle solutions, we can control the thickness of the nanoparticle layers on surfaces. The patterned ZnO nanoparticles on surfaces are used as seeds to grow ZnO nanorod arrays, and the patterned Fe 3O4 nanoparticles or Fe/Mo nanoclusters are used as catalysts for the patterned growth of carbon nanotube arrays. This shows that μCP is a facile method to pattern inorganic nanoparticles relying on PDMS stamps of designed surface affinity. Patterned 1D nanomaterial arrays can subsequently be obtained by use of solution path seeded growth or catalyzed chemical vapor deposition. © 2010 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.