Molecule, layered medium and method for creating a pattern
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJames K. Gimzewski, Thomas Jung, Rato R. Schlittler
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Abstract
The invention relates to molecules which can be attached to a substrate (4) and switched between different stable or metastable conformations (18, 19). At least one of these conformations (19) is generated and/or stabilized by the proximity of the substrate (4). The invention further relates to a layered medium comprising such molecules and to a method to switch such molecules in a controlled way. The layered medium is usable as resists for lithographic application, data storage media, and promoter of electron transfer between two media. The method is usable to generate and interrogate patterns in the layered medium.
Claims18
Molecule comprising at least two entities (1, 3) which are bound to each other by at least one connection (2) and being attachable to a substrate (4) and being switchable under an external influence between at least two different stable or metastable conformations (18, 19) which are distinguishable by a different arrangement of said entities (1, 3) with respect to said substrate (4) and/or to each other, characterized in that, when said molecule is attached to said substrate (4), in a first of said conformations (18) said molecule is attracted to said substrate (4) by means of a second attractive force (5) between a second (3) of said entities (1, 3) and said substrate (4) and a first (1) of said entities (1, 3) has a position with respect to said substrate (4) at which a first attractive force (6) between them is negligible versus said second attractive force (5) and that in a second of said conformations (19) said first entity (1) has a position at which it is bound to said substrate (4) by said first attractive force (6).
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.