UV-NIL
UV-NIL is a nanoimprint method that is based on in-situ material dispense and then using controlled subsequent UV-curing and pressure. Depending on application requirements, the photoresist can be dispensed after or before the alignment.
It permits to replicate patterns which dimensions can be as small as few tens or hundreds of nanometers.
UV-NIL Process
The stamp, with 3D nanoscale pattern, is aligned to the substrate. The accuracy requirement varies with the application. For some single or first level application, there is no need for alignment: a rough pre-alignment can be sufficient.
The stamp is then pressed into the liquid resist to define the desired pattern. Material is cured by ultraviolet light radiation.
The stamp is then smoothly separated and - if applicable - moved to next imprint position.
UV-NIL Process
Stamp-to-Wafer alignment is performed along 5 axes: XYT and Parallelism
Imprinting material is dispensed.The resist is either spun on, in advance, or dispensed onto the substrate according to a specific pattern which guarantees bubble free layer after imprinting. The dispensing pattern impacts the resist flow speed into the stamp cavities.
Stamp is pressed into material to mold the pattern:
Self leveling of the stamp
Pressure during UV exposure
Stamp is lifted and moved to the next site
Imprinting is repeated at the new location
NIL Technology
Low cost production solutions of nanostructures are in development that may be the driving forces of Semiconductor, MOEMS and optoelectronics technology tomorrow. In particular, Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) and its variations have been developed as a cost-effective alternative to high-resolution e-beam lithography to print sub-20 nm geometries.
Imprinting is based on the principle of mechanically pressing thin polymer film with a stamp containing the nanopattern, in a thermo-mechanical or UV curing process. The patterned polymer can act as a final device, e.g. lense for imaging sensors, micro fluidic chip, biomedical array etc. It can also be used as a high resolution mask for subsequent steps of the process.
Imprinting is a straightforward lithography technology. There are three basic process steps:
Align the stamp with the substrate which has been pre-coated with the imprinting material
Press the stamp into the imprinting material to transfer the pattern
written on the stamp surface
Separate the stamp from the imprinting material
We can describe three imprinting or embossing techniques: Hot Embossing Lithography (HEL) using thermal plastic material, UV-NIL using a liquid resist which is then cured with UV light after molding and Soft Lithography which transfers ink previously applied to a soft stamp onto a substrate using a stamping method
NaPa Library of Processes
The NaPa library is a collection of 27 processes, recipes, references performed in the field of nanopatterning. It aims to enable researchers and engineers to choose from different processes depending on the specific challenges of a new application.
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About NaPANIL
NaPANIL is a NMP thematic priority European-funded Framework 7 Large-Scale Project, bringing together 18 partners from: industry, academia, and private institutes, to achieve ambitious goals.
Click here to learn more about the European NaPANIL Project!
NIL Papers
TITLE |
DATE |
ABSTRACT |
FROM |
NaPa "Library of Processes" |
January 2010 |
This FREE 152 pages book gives all directions needed to chose and apply an alternative nano-patterning technique: it is a must read for all! |
NaPANIL |
UV nanoimprint lithography process optimization for electron device manufacturing on nanosized scale |
November 2008 |
Imprint specific process parameters like the residual layer thickness and the etch resistance of the UV polymers for the substrate etch process have to be optimized to introduce UV nanoimprint lithography (UV NIL) as a high-resolution, low-cost patterning technique... |
IISB |
UV nanoimprint lithography process optimization for electron device manufacturing on nanosized scale |
September 2008 |
It's a poster |
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UV nanoimprinting lithography using nanostructured quartz molds with antisticking functionalization |
February 2008 |
In this paper, we report the results obtained by the application of the SET FC150 equipment for UV-NIL... |