Placement of conjugated oligomers in an alkanethiol matrix by scanned probe microscope lithography

We report the in situ replacement of conjugated molecules in an insulating matrix by scanned probe microscope lithography. High yield, programmable patterning of a self-assembled monolayer of dodecanethiol was performed by applying voltage pulses from a scanning tunneling microscope. Conjugated oligomers were observed to be subsequently chemisorbed onto the patterned sites. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0003-6951(99)01031-1].