Modeling and Characterizing Initial Component Assembly in Templated Assembly by Selective Removal

This paper presents quantitative modeling and characterization of the initial assembly process that takes place during templated assembly by selective removal (TASR). The present model complements the earlier analytical treatment of TASR, which only described TASR's selective removal process. The model describes how the geometry of and interactions between the components and assembly substrate, along with the mean fluid flows, predict the circumstances under which fluid effects will successfully drive initial placement of components into the assembly sites. Experiments that confirm the model predictions are presented. These results are used to identify how scaling trends affect the effectiveness of TASR's initial assembly and selective removal processes.