Nanoscale patterning of gold nanoparticles using an atomic force microscope

We report on the use of the tip of an atomic force microscope to remove selectively, and subsequently to deposit, nanoparticles of gold passivated with tri-n-octylphosphine oxide (TOPO)/octadecylamine. The study has revealed a minimum feature size of 50 nm in the removal experiment, while lines of 180 nm could be drawn with the gold nanoparticles, limited by the quality of the substrate surface.