Study on nanoscale patterning of SAMs by using near-field photothermal desorption

We have developed a nanoscale patterning method of self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) using near-field light. This method utilizes the thermal desorption, which can make a noncontact patterning of SAMs at nanoscale. Here, we numerically estimate temperature distributions on a sample surface by the finite difference time domain (FDTD) method. The analytical results show the effective probe and sample conditions for the photothermal heating. As a result, the feasibility of the nanoscale patterning of SAMs using this method was confirmed. Furthermore, the preliminarily experiment of the thermal desorption using the near-field light with proposed model was carried out.