Polydiacetylene Monolayers as Versatile Photoresists for Interfacial Patterning

Abstract

Well-defined organic interfaces are central to a broad scope of technological advances ranging from sensor design to molecular electronics applications. Fabricating the desired properties within a single molecular layer has proven to be a significant challenge. In this paper, photopolymerization of an ordered array of diacetylenes is shown to be a versatile means for fabricating spatially controlled interfacial properties within a single molecular layer. The application of a single-layer polymer to this process leads to enhanced ruggedness by covalently linking adjacent molecules within the assembly. In addition to direct chemical-etching applications, these monolayer polymers provide a versatile means for two-dimensional patterning of interfacial chemical properties as well as the localized chromatic phase. Moreover, within these patterned arrays, the vertical position of the polymer backbone within the monolayer structure is successfully controlled. Because the resultant backbone is electronically deloc...