Joel Orr's World

IBM uses atomic microscope for direct writing

R. Colin Johnson


PORTLAND, Ore. — IBM on Monday (May 1) unveiled a new method of direct writing to substrates that harnesses an atomic force microscope (AFM) to electronically control molecular-scale lithography.

Similar to dip-pen lithography, the new method improves on that direct-writing technique by being electrically controlled like an inkjet printer rather than a traditional dip-pen's method of controlling writing by touching and lifting the pen to and from a substrate.

Besides nanoscale lithography for electronic circuits, IBM also predicted the method will enable even smaller nanoscale-sized microfluidic devices used for everything from DNA fingerprinting to routine blood tests. Better control and faster processing speeds enabled by IBM's discovery, the company claimed, will enable speedier electronic control of separating biological molecules for a wide variety of medical applications.

EETimes.com - IBM uses atomic microscope for direct writing.