Size-tunable fabrication of Au nanodot arrays via electrodeposition-assisted capillary force lithography

In this paper, we present a facile means of generating size-controllable Au nanodot arrays employing the electrochemically synthesized nanorings of poly(3,4- ethylenedioxythiopene) (PEDOT) within the patterned hole array of polystyrene (PS) template. First, patterned PS array with a diameter of 350 nm is prepared by capillary force lithography. Then, by altering the EDOT monomer concentration, applied potential, or electrodeposition time, PEDOT nanorings with tunable wall thickness are grown inside the PS hole arrays. In addition, by utilizing the nanoholes inside the PEDOT nanorings as a template, Au nanodot arrays with controlled diameter (100~350 nm) can be subsequently fabricated by another electrodeposition process. The successful deposition of Au nanodot arrays is confirmed by localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR).