Fabrication of true-color micropatterns by 2D stepwise contraction and adsorption nanolithography (SCAN)

Fabrication of structures on the micro- and nanometer scales is of great importance for both fundamental research and potential applications. While rnicrolithography methods are relatively established, the production of multi-component micro- and nanostructures with high density still presents difficulties. In this paper, a novel strategy termed as two-dimensional (2D) stepwise contraction and adsorption nanolithography (SCAN) is used to fabricate true-color micropatterns through a series of size-reduction process based on the physical elasticity of elastomer. Faithful multicolor patterns with feature size about 30 times smaller than the initial ones can be fabricated by employing the 2D SCAN. The simplicity and high throughput capability of SCAN make it a competitive alternative to other micro- and nanolithography techniques.