Controlled deposition of nanodroplets on a surface by liquid nanodispensing: Application to the study of the evaporation of femtoliter sessile droplets

We report on a recently developed liquid nanodispensing technique (NADIS) using an atomic force microscope probe with an aperture at its apex, to deposit nanodroplets with volumes in the femto- to atto-liter range on a surface. Besides its potential applications in terms of nanopatterning, NADIS is also an efficient tool for studies on wetting at micro to nanometer scale. We illustrate this point by the monitoring of the evaporation of femtoliter sessile droplets using a nanomechanical mass sensor.