INSTANTANEOUS FABRICATION OF NANOCHANNEL ARRAY WITH CONTROLLED GAP DISTANCE AND DIAMETER

Abstract

We have studied a straightforward method to fabricate nanochannel arrays with well-controlled diameter and gap distance. To achieve the nanochannel arrays, we introduced a near-field electrospinning (NFES) technique which offers a direct patterning and writing of nanofibers (NFs) with desired dimensions of diameter, gap distance, and shape of channel cross-section by controlling substrate motion and velocity. Then, nanochannel arrays were obtained by curing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) on the precisely controlled nanofibers. Finally, by dissolving the NFs in PDMS, the well-controlled nanochannel arrays were formed. The diameter of NFs were controlled in a range of 100 nm to 200 nm in 5 mm length and the fabricated nanochannel arrays filled with florescent solution were analyzed by fluorescent microscopy to confirm the performance of this chip as a nanofluidic channel.