Nanoscale viscoplastic behavior of smectic liquid crystals and its application in nanolithography

Journal Article · Fri Feb 21 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Journal of Applied Physics

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4865796· OSTI ID:22278051

Schulz, Benjamin; Steffen, Paul; Bahr, Christian ^[1]

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1. Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (MPIDS), Am Fassberg 17, 37077 Göttingen (Germany)

We report a unique combination of properties of smectic liquid crystal films that can be described as a viscoplastic behavior on the nanoscale: On the one hand, the films preserve imprinted surface patterns despite being permeated by a directed molecular flow of the film material. On the other hand, their surface morphology can easily be manipulated using an atomic force microscopy tip. Our results demonstrate a controlled molecular-scale deposition of material on the film surface, thereby enabling nanolithographic surface modification of a fluid material.

• OSTI ID: 22278051
• Journal Information: Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 115, Issue 7; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0021-8979
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
77 NANOSCIENCE AND NANOTECHNOLOGY
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
DEPOSITION
LIQUID CRYSTALS
MODIFICATIONS
MORPHOLOGY
NANOSTRUCTURES
SURFACES
THIN FILMS