Patent ID: 7867916

Claim:
A method for forming a first self-organized structure on a target substrate, the method comprising: disposing a solution puddle on the target substrate and arranging a control structure adjacent to the target substrate such that a liquid/gas interface defined at an upper surface of the solution puddle is contacted by the control structure, wherein the solution puddle includes a solute disposed in a liquid solvent consisting of liquid molecules having a stronger attraction to the control structure than to themselves such that a peripheral boundary of the solution puddle conforms to a shape of the control structure, and wherein the solute consists of particles having an average size that is smaller than one micron; and causing the solvent to evaporate at a predetermined rate such that said peripheral boundary of the solution puddle recedes toward the control structure and a first residual portion of said solute forms said first self-organized structure along the receding peripheral boundary of said solution puddle.