Abstract: Nanoparticles in a colloid are purified, with the colloid including a fluid, unwanted matter, and the nanoparticles to be purified. An electric field is applied that is substantially spatially uniform over a distance that is at least equal to a characteristic dimension of the nanoparticles, so that at least some of the nanoparticles move towards at least one collection surface as a result of the force arising between their electrical charge and the electric field, whereupon nanoparticles are collected on said at least one collection surface. The collection surface(s) may be one or more electrodes to which a voltage potential is applied. The collected nanoparticles are then removed from the collection surface, e.g., by dispersing them into another fluid.

Abstract: Substantially or roughly spherical micellar structures useful in the formation of nanoporous materials by templating are disclosed. A roughly spherical micellar structure is formed by organization of one or more spatially unsymmetric organic amphiphilic molecules. Each of those molecules comprises a branched moiety and a second moiety. The branched moiety can form part of either the core or the surface of the spherical micellar structure, depending on the polarity of the environment. The roughly spherical micellar structures form in a thermosetting polymer matrix. They are employed in a templating process whereby the amphiphilic molecules are dispersed in the polymer matrix, the matrix is cured, and the porogens are then removed, leaving nanoscale pores.

Abstract: Substantially or roughly spherical micellar structures useful in the formation of nanoporous materials by templating are disclosed. A roughly spherical micellar structure is formed by organization of one or more spatially unsymmetric organic amphiphilic molecules. Each of those molecules comprises a branched moiety and a second moiety. The branched moiety can form part of either the core or the surface of the spherical micellar structure, depending on the polarity of the environment. The roughly spherical micellar structures form in a thermosetting polymer matrix. They are employed in a templating process whereby the amphiphilic molecules are dispersed in the polymer matrix, the matrix is cured, and the porogens are then removed, leaving nanoscale pores.

Abstract: Glassy carbon nanostructures are disclosed that can be used as electrode materials in batteries and electrochemical capacitors, or as photoelectrodes in photocatalysis and photoelectrochemistry devices. In some embodiments channels (e.g., substantially cylindrically-shaped pores) are formed in a glassy carbon substrate, whereas in other embodiments, ridges are formed that extend along and over a glassy carbon substrate. In either case, a semiconductor and/or metal oxide may be deposited over the glassy carbon to form a composite material.

Abstract: A method. A first copolymer is provided. A substrate is provided having an energetically neutral surface layer with at least one trough integrally disposed thereon with sidewalls. A first film of the first copolymer is coated inside the trough. Line-forming microdomains are assembled of the first copolymer forming first self-assembled structures within the first film normal to the sidewalls and parallel to the surface layer. The first and second polymer blocks are removed from the first film and oriented structures remain in the trough normal to the sidewalls and parallel to the surface layer. A second film of a second copolymer is coated inside the trough. Line-forming microdomains are assembled of the second copolymer, and form second self-assembled structures within the second film oriented normal to the oriented structures and parallel to the sidewalls. The third and fourth polymer blocks are removed, and at least one second oriented structure remains.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of controlling the orientation of microphase-separated domains in a block copolymer film, comprising forming an orientation control layer comprising an epoxy-containing cycloaliphatic acrylic polymer on a surface of a substrate, irradiating and/or heating the substrate to crosslink the orientation control layer, and forming a block copolymer assembly layer comprising block copolymers which form microphase-separated domains, on a surface of the orientation control layer opposite the substrate. The orientation control layer can be selectively cross-linked to expose regions of the substrate, or the orientation control layer can be patterned without removing the layer, to provide selective patterning on the orientation control layer. In further embodiments, bilayer and trilayer imaging schemes are disclosed.

Abstract: A method of forming a layered structure comprising a domain pattern of a self-assembled material comprises: disposing on a substrate a photoresist layer comprising a non-crosslinking photoresist; optionally baking the photoresist layer; pattern-wise exposing the photoresist layer to first radiation; optionally baking the exposed photoresist layer; and developing the exposed photoresist layer with a non-alkaline developer to form a negative-tone patterned photoresist layer comprising non-crosslinked developed photoresist; wherein the developed photoresist is not soluble in a given organic solvent suitable for casting a given material capable of self-assembly, and the developed photoresist is soluble in an aqueous alkaline developer and/or a second organic solvent. A solution comprising the given material capable of self-assembly dissolved in the given organic solvent is casted on the patterned photoresist layer, and the given organic solvent is removed.

Abstract: A method of forming a layered structure comprising a self-assembled material comprises: disposing a non-crosslinking photoresist layer on a substrate; pattern-wise exposing the photoresist layer to first radiation; optionally heating the exposed photoresist layer; developing the exposed photoresist layer in a first development process with an aqueous alkaline developer, forming an initial patterned photoresist layer; treating the initial patterned photoresist layer photochemically, thermally and/or chemically, thereby forming a treated patterned photoresist layer comprising non-crosslinked treated photoresist disposed on a first substrate surface; casting a solution of an orientation control material in a first solvent on the treated patterned photoresist layer, and removing the first solvent, forming an orientation control layer; heating the orientation control layer to effectively bind a portion of the orientation control material to a second substrate surface; removing at least a portion of the treated pho

Abstract: Substantially or roughly spherical micellar structures useful in the formation of nanoporous materials by templating are disclosed. A roughly spherical micellar structure is formed by organization of one or more spatially unsymmetric organic amphiphilic molecules. Each of those molecules comprises a branched moiety and a second moiety. The branched moiety can form part of either the core or the surface of the spherical micellar structure, depending on the polarity of the environment. The roughly spherical micellar structures form in a thermosetting polymer matrix. They are employed in a templating process whereby the amphiphilic molecules are dispersed in the polymer matrix, the matrix is cured, and the porogens are then removed, leaving nanoscale pores.

Abstract: Bilayer systems include a bottom layer formed of polydimethylglutarimide, an acid labile dissolution inhibitor and a photoacid generator. The bilayer system can be exposed and developed in a single exposure and development process.

Abstract: A composition of matter and a structure fabricated using the composition. The composition comprising: a resin; polymeric nano-particles dispersed in the resin, each of the polymeric nano-particle comprising a multi-arm core polymer and pendent polymers attached to the multi-arm core polymer, the multi-arm core polymer immiscible with the resin and the pendent polymers miscible with the resin; and a solvent, the solvent volatile at a first temperature, the resin cross-linkable at a second temperature, the polymeric nano-particle decomposable at a third temperature, the third temperature higher than the second temperature, the second temperature higher than the first temperature, wherein a thickness of a layer of the composition shrinks by less than about 3.5% between heating the layer from the second temperature to the third temperature.

Abstract: A method of forming a block copolymer pattern comprises providing a substrate comprising a topographic pre-pattern comprising a ridge surface separated by a height, h, greater than 0 nanometers from a trench surface; disposing a block copolymer comprising two or more block components on the topographic pre-pattern to form a layer having a thickness of more than 0 nanometers over the ridge surface and the trench surface; and annealing the layer to form a block copolymer pattern having a periodicity of the topographic pre-pattern, the block copolymer pattern comprising microdomains of self-assembled block copolymer disposed on the ridge surface and the trench surface, wherein the microdomains disposed on the ridge surface have a different orientation compared to the microdomains disposed on the trench surface.

Abstract: An interconnection between a sublithographic-pitched structure and a lithographic pitched structure is formed. A plurality of conductive lines having a sublithographic pitch may be lithographically patterned and cut along a line at an angle less than 45 degrees from the lengthwise direction of the plurality of conductive lines. Alternately, a copolymer mixed with homopolymer may be placed into a recessed area and self-aligned to form a plurality of conductive lines having a sublithographic pitch in the constant width region and a lithographic dimension between adjacent lines at a trapezoidal region. Yet alternately, a first plurality of conductive lines with the sublithographic pitch and a second plurality of conductive lines with the lithographic pitch may be formed at the same level or at different.

Abstract: A method of forming a metal oxide nanostructure comprises disposing a chelated oligomeric metal oxide precursor on a solvent-soluble template to form a first structure comprising a deformable chelated oligomeric metal oxide precursor layer; setting the deformable chelated oligomeric metal oxide precursor layer to form a second structure comprising a set metal oxide precursor layer; dissolving the solvent-soluble template with a solvent to form a third structure comprising the set metal oxide precursor layer; and thermally treating the third structure to form the metal oxide nanostructure.

Abstract: A composition of matter and a structure fabricated using the composition. The composition comprising: a resin; polymeric nano-particles dispersed in the resin, each of the polymeric nano-particle comprising a multi-arm core polymer and pendent polymers attached to the multi-arm core polymer, the multi-arm core polymer immiscible with the resin and the pendent polymers miscible with the resin; and a solvent, the solvent volatile at a first temperature, the resin cross-linkable at a second temperature, the polymeric nano-particle decomposable at a third temperature, the third temperature higher than the second temperature, the second temperature higher than the first temperature, wherein a thickness of a layer of the composition shrinks by less than about 3.5% between heating the layer from the second temperature to the third temperature.

Abstract: A method of controlling both alignment and registration (lateral position) of lamellae formed from self-assembly of block copolymers, the method comprising the steps of obtaining a substrate having an energetically neutral surface layer comprising a first topographic “phase pinning” pattern and a second topographic “guiding” pattern; obtaining a self-assembling di-block copolymer; coating the self-assembling di-block copolymer on the energetically neutral surface to obtain a coated substrate; and annealing the coated substrate to obtain micro-domains of the di-block copolymer.

Abstract: A method. A combination is provided of a block copolymer and additional material. The copolymer includes a first block of a first polymer covalently bonded to a second block of a second polymer. The additional material is miscible with the first polymer. The first polymer includes polystyrene and the second polymer includes poly(ethylene oxide). A first layer including polydimethylglutarimide is adhered onto a surface of a substrate including a dielectric coated silicon wafer. A film is formed of the combination directly onto a surface of the first layer. Nanostructures of the additional material self-assemble within the first polymer block. The film and the first layer are simultaneously etched. The nanostructures have an etch rate lower than an etch rate of the block copolymer and lower than an etch rate of the first layer. Portions of the film are removed. Features remain on the surface of the first layer.

Abstract: A composition of matter and a structure fabricated using the composition. The composition comprising: a resin; polymeric nano-particles dispersed in the resin, each of the polymeric nano-particle comprising a multi-arm core polymer and pendent polymers attached to the multi-arm core polymer, the multi-arm core polymer immiscible with the resin and the pendent polymers miscible with the resin; and a solvent, the solvent volatile at a first temperature, the resin cross-linkable at a second temperature, the polymeric nano-particle decomposable at a third temperature, the third temperature higher than the second temperature, the second temperature higher than the first temperature, wherein a thickness of a layer of the composition shrinks by less than about 3.5% between heating the layer from the second temperature to the third temperature.

Abstract: A method of orienting microphase-separated domains is disclosed, comprising applying a composition comprising an orientation control component, and a block copolymer assembly component comprising a block copolymer having at least two microphase-separated domains in which the orientation control component is substantially immiscible with the block copolymer assembly component upon forming a film; and forming a compositionally vertically segregated film on the surface of the substrate from the composition. The orientation control component and block copolymer segregate during film forming to form the compositionally vertically-segregated film on the surface of a substrate, where the orientation control component is enriched adjacent to the surface of the compositionally segregated film adjacent to the surface of the substrate, and the block copolymer assembly is enriched at an air-surface interface.

Abstract: Nanoporous structures are constructed that have hydrophilic regions separated by hydrophobic regions. The porous, hydrophilic regions have reaction sites suitable for use in a bioassay application and have a higher density of reaction sites than that of a non-porous (2-D) surface. The structure may be made by depositing a layer of a matrix material (e.g., an organosilicate) and a porogen, and then crosslinking the matrix material to form a nanohybrid composite structure. The porogen is decomposed to form pores within the matrix material, and a reactive gas phase species (e.g., ozone) is patternwise directed onto a surface of the matrix material. Ultraviolet light (directed through a mask) activates the gas phase species to form a reactive species that then reacts with the matrix material to make it hydrophilic. The porogen may be decomposed thermally or by exposing it to an oxidizing atmosphere in the presence of ultraviolet light.