Nanoscale molecular patterns fabricated by using scanning near-field optical lithography.

Nanometer-scale patterns have been created in self-assembled monolayers by using a scanning near-field optical microscope coupled to an ultra-violet laser emitting light at a wavelength of 244 nm. Sharp, chemically well-defined features with dimensions as small as 40 nm have been created routinely, and on occasions line widths of 25 nm (lambda/10) have been achieved. Because of the wide range of photochemical methods available for surface derivatization, this approach promises to provide a flexible and versatile route to the generation of molecular and biological nanostructures for a wide range of applications.