Guided three-dimensional molecular self-assembly on silicon substrates

Abstract

We demonstrate three-dimensional (3D) self-assemble growth of the metallothionein (Mn,Cd-MT-2) molecules on patterned semiconductor substrates. The MT molecules deposited on the patterned substrates were found to grow into 3D rod or ring-type nanostructures, depending on the shape of patterned nanostructures on the substrates. Dense arrays of 3D molecular nanorods or rings with an area density close to 10(10) cm(-2) were demonstrated with a pore size of 20 nm and a pitch size of 100 nm. Those engineered molecular nanostructures provide an excellent opportunity for biological applications, sensing sources of nanodevices, biochemical reactions on surfaces, and even single molecule studies. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.