Nanofabrication

Polymer Manipulation and Nanofabrication
in Real Time Using Transmission Electron Microscopy

R. Malcolm Brown, Jr.,* Zack Barnes, Chie Sawatari, and Tetsuo Kondo

Section of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, Department of Integrated Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Japan, and Graduate School of Bioresources and Bioenvironmental Science, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 812-8581, Japan

Received June 7, 2006

Revised September 14, 2006

Abstract:

Here we present time-resolved in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observations and real-time manipulation of nematic ordered cellulose and ultradrawn polyethylene films. Drawn films of these two polymers exhibited a unique response to the low-dose electron beam. Electron beam damage was minimal based on retention of an organized electron diffraction pattern. Increased electron dosage appeared to melt the polymer with subsequent movement and attraction toward preferred electron concentrations within the beam. This discovery allowed the preferential, directed manipulation of polymer chain aggregates in two dimensions. These findings provide a basis for a new technique to manipulate and simultaneously observe dynamic assembly at the molecular level of structures using TEM.

The complete article can be found at http://pubs.acs.org/cgi-bin/abstract.cgi/bomaf6/asap/abs/bm060546z.html

Biomacromolecules, ASAP Article 10.1021/bm060546z
Web Release Date: November 24, 2006

The technology described here is available for licensing.
READ MORE