Evidence of meniscus interface transport in dip-pen nanolithography: An annular diffusion model

Ring shaped dots were patterned with mercaptohexadecanoic acid ink by dip-pen nanolithography. These dots have an ink-free inner core surrounded by an inked annular region, making them different from the filled dots usually obtained. This suggests a different transport mechanism than the current hypothesis of bulk water meniscus transport. A meniscus interface ink transport model is proposed, and its general applicability is demonstrated by predicting the patterned dot radii of chemically diverse inks. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.