Controlled morphology of biologically derived metal nanopatterns

We report the ability to control the morphology of nanometer thick Ti oxide films that were created via a parallel nanofabrication process using a two-dimensional protein crystal as a template. Atomic force microscopy was used to examine the evolution of these structures from a periodic array of nanometer-scale dots (nanodots) to a screen containing a periodic array of nanometer-scale holes (nanoscreen) as the film thickness was increased. A Monte Carlo solid-on-solid simulation was then developed to explain the thickness dependence of the morphology as the metal film self-organizes into these nanopatterns. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.