Mikro- und Nanosysteme

Prof. Dr. Christofer Hierold

Bachelor thesis / Semester project

Nanotemplating using block copolymers

Motivation
The increasing demand for conventional lithographic
process easy to implement and cost-effective is driving the development of alternative nanopatterning
methods. In this line, block copolymers (BCPs), two
polymer chains covalently linked together at one
end, that self-assemble into nanoscale structures are
particularly important to meet the current demands
for patterning surfaces at the nanometer scale.

desired reagent, i.e. a salt of gold, and then deposited on a substrate by either spin or dip coating
(Method 1). An alternative method consists in directly depositing the block copolymer on a substrate
to obtain a nanostructured monolayer, the substrate
is then submerged in a solution containing the desired reagent (Method 2). Both methods are shown
in Figure 1. The reaction occurring at the substrate
surface is a galvanic displacement process, which is
an electro-less technique based on the spontaneous
reduction of metal ions on semiconductor surfaces.

Figure 2. AFM images (1 m2) of block copolymers of different molecular weights spin-coated onto Ge (100) with
its native oxide. Taken from [Aizawa, M.; Buriak, J.M.
Chem. Mater. 2007, 19, 5090-5101].

Task description

Figure 1. Schematic illustration of two nanotemplating

methods using a block copolymer. The block copolymer
micelles are composed by coronas (red) and cores (blue).
The deposition of gold nanoparticles could be achieved by
two methods. After the polymer is synthesized, the reagents can be infused into the micelles and then deposited
on the substrate (method 1) or the block copolymer can
be deposited in the substrates for a later immersion in a
solution containing the reagents.

General Methodology
The aim of this project is to be able to control the diameter and pitch of arrays of gold nanoparticles
which will be later use as the metal catalyst for silicon
nanowires growth. In order to achieve this, a block
copolymer, Polystyrene-block-poly(2-vinylpyridine),
will be synthesized by polymerizing styrene by a reaction with n-butyl lithium, and subsequently adding
2-vinylpyridine. The reaction can then be terminated
by adding alcohol or water. Once the block copolymer has been synthesized, it can be infused with the

The project will involve the synthesis of block copolymers with different molecular weights (Figure 2) in
order to control the size and pitch of arrays of gold
nanoparticles deposited on Si (111) substrates. It is
expected that large amounts of images and data will
need to be managed. Therefore, good organizational
skills and a working knowledge of statistics is desired.

Learning opportunities
You will learn how to:
1. Do a scientific literature survey
2. Work in a chemical lab and a cleanroom
3. Synthesize block copolymers different molecular weights
4. Work independently and systematically
5. Write a good scientific report

CONTACT:
Diana Dvila
Micro and Nanosystems, CLA G3
diana.davila@micro.mavt.ethz.ch
+41 44 632 6490

http://www.micro.mavt.ethz.ch