Dynamic forces of ionic liquid nano-droplets measured by atomic force microscope

A novel microfabrication method is presented to fabricate nano wells on silicon surfaces by using a patterned self-assembly technique combine with a dip-coating process. The bottom of the nanowell is fabricated with hydrophilic surface and the top with hydrophobic surface. A single ionic liquid droplet was immobilized in a nanowell by employing the dip-coating process. Dynamic forces of individual ionic liquid nano-droplets with various dimensions were investigated by atomic force microscope (AFM). The effectiveness of the AFM to probe dynamic interactions between ionic liquid nano-droplet in atmosphere was demonstrated. Qualitative trends in the force behavior of the ionic liquid nano-droplets have been obtained by a modified AFM probe. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.