Atomic force microscope tip nanoprinting of gold nanoclusters

We present a new tool for the deposition of small islands of gold nanoclusters at a predefined position on a surface. The process involves two AFM tips, one for the printing and one for imaging, and a nanopositioning table supporting the sample. Using different types of clusters, we studied how the length of the stabilizing chains, the nature of the solvent, and the chemistry of the surface influence the transfer of the clusters from the printer tip apex to the surface. This technique is applied to the deposition of a nanoclusters in the gap of a planar metal-insulator-metal nanojunction.