Directed self-assembly of gold nanoparticles and gold thin films on micro- and nanopatterned templates fabricated from mixed phase-separated Langmuir-Blodgett films

Abstract

We report a useful technique to immobilize Au nanoparticles (Au-NPs), double layers of Au-NPs and Au thin films on micro- and nanopatterns using directed self-assembly on templates fabricated from phase-separated mixed Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) films. The patterns of the mixed LB films can be tuned by adjusting the intermolecular interactions between the film-forming molecules and the fabrication conditions of the films. We used mixed LB films containing a silane coupling agent for the fabrication of micro- and nanopatterned templates to immobilize Au-NPs of different sizes in the patterned regions. Atomic force microscopy, Auger electron spectroscopy and scanning Auger electron mapping of the Au-NP-immobilized films showed that Au-NPs were immobilized in accordance with the patterns of the original mixed LB films. A layer of the immobilized Au-NPs was used as a catalyst for the succeeding Au electroless deposition or as a first layer for the stacking of a second layer using the layer-by-layer deposition method. We have also succeeded in controlling the thickness and density of the Au-NPs.