Patent ID: 8076125

Claim:
A method for imagewise patterning of a surface comprising: (a) forming a first substantially monolayer thick film on at least a portion of the surface, the first substantially monolayer thick film comprising a photo-labile molecule responsive to a first wavelength of light; (b) imagewise exposing at least a portion of the first substantially monolayer thick film to the first wavelength of light, such that a first irradiated portion is formed; (c) contacting at least a portion of the first irradiated portion with a first metal ion, such that a first metallic layer is formed; (d) forming a second substantially monolayer thick film on at least a portion of the first metallic layer, the second substantially monolayer thick film comprising a photo-labile molecule responsive to a second wavelength of light; (e) imagewise exposing at least a portion of one or more of the first and second substantially monolayer thick films with the second wavelength of light, such that a second irradiated portion is formed; (f) contacting at least a portion of the second irradiated portion with a second metal ion, such that a second metallic layer is formed; and (g) forming a cap layer on at least a portion of the second metallic layer by contacting at least a portion of the second metallic layer with a compound selected from the group consisting of: a photovoltaic molecule, a photochromic molecule, an analyte sensing molecule, and a capping molecule, wherein steps (d), (e), and (f) are repeated one or more times prior to step (g).