Sub-5 nm Dendrimer Directed Self-Assembly with Large-Area Uniform Alignment by Graphoepitaxy

Abstract

Directed self-assembly (DSA) using soft materials is an important method for producing periodic nanostructures because it is a simple, cost-effective process for fabricating high-resolution patterns. Most of the previously reported DSA methods exploit the self-assembly of block copolymers, which generates a wide range of nanostructures. In this study, cylinders obtained from supramolecular dendrimer films with a high resolution (<5 nm) exhibit planar ordering over a macroscopic area via guiding topographical templates with a high aspect ratio (>10) and high spatial resolution (approximate to 20 nm) of guiding line patterns. Theoretical and experimental studies reveal that this property is related to geometrical anchoring on the meniscus region and physical surface anchoring on the sidewall. Furthermore, this DSA of dendrimer cylinders is demonstrated by the non-regular geometry of the patterned template. The macroscopic planar alignment of the dendrimer nanostructure reveals an extremely small feature size (approximate to 4.7 nm) on the wafer scale (>16 cm(2)). This study is expected to open avenues for the production of a large family of supramolecular dendrimers with different phases and feature dimensions oriented by the DSA approach.