Dissolvable polymeric stamps for use in soft lithography

IEC 159

L. Rhys Lawson and Larry Dalton. Department of Chemistry and Nanotechnology, University of Washington, Box 351700, Seattle, WA 98195
In micromolding and imprint lithography, stiction is a highly detrimental phenomenon that causes incomplete stampings, as well as defects generated during the separation of stamp and film. These are the results of strong adhesion between a deposited film and the stamp material. The problem of stiction is addressed in this report through a complete dissolution of the stamp material, instead of the traditional, mechanical, separation. The method reported details the fabrication of polymeric stamps from materials tailored to dissolve in a solvent which leaves the imprinted film unaffected. A variety of stamp materials will be discussed, including those soluble in water, alcohols, as well as non-polar organic solvents. Micromolding and embossing applications will be demonstrated as well as the mask-less stamping and development of SU-8, negative-tone photoresist films.
 

General Poster Session
5:00 PM-7:00 PM, Tuesday, March 25, 2003 Convention Center -- Hall G, Poster

Sci-Mix
8:00 PM-10:00 PM, Monday, March 24, 2003 Convention Center -- Hall G, Sci-Mix

Division of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry
The 225th ACS National Meeting, New Orleans, LA, March 23-27, 2003