A novel application of alkanethiol self-assembled monolayers in nanofabrication: Direct molding and replication of patterned conducting masters

The fabrication of nanostructures is one of the most relevant topics in mod ern technologies. Here, we present a new strategy that allows direct moldin g and replication of conducting patterns with sizes ranging from nanometers to millimeters. The method consists of metal electrodeposition on conducti ng substrates covered with an alkanethiol monolayer. This allows master mol ding and replication avoiding contact; printing, masking, or photopatternin g steps. The method is fast and inexpensive and requires only basic instrum entation available at any laboratory. The potential applications of this me thod are related to serial fabrication of nano/microstructured metallic arc hitectures.