Polymeric conical structure formation by probe-induced electrohydrodynamical nanofluidic motion

Abstract

We report the creation of polymeric structures by atomic force microscopy (AFM) probe induced electrohydrodynamic (EHD) instability and nanofluidic flow. By biasing the AFM probe in a high field regime, single conical structure was produced on poly(methylmethacrylate) due to the initiation of strong EHD instability in the locally heated polymer melts. The pattern formation is dominated by the interplay of polymer EHD motion, polymer ablation, and AFM tip repulsion. The dependence of cone formation probability on the bending of AFM cantilevers with different stiffness was also discussed. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.