Abstract: An imprint lithography imprinting stack includes a substrate and a polymeric adhesion layer adhered to the substrate. The polymeric adhesion layer includes polymeric components with an extended backbone length of at least about 2 nm. The backbones of the polymeric components may be substantially aligned in a planar configuration on the surface of the substrate, such that a thickness of the polymeric adhesion layer is less than about 2 nm.

Abstract: Methods of making nano-scale structures with geometric cross-sections, including convex or non-convex cross-sections, are described. The approach may be used to directly pattern substrates and/or create imprint lithography templates or molds that may be subsequently used to directly replicate nano-shaped patterns into other substrates, such as into a functional or sacrificial resist to form functional nanoparticles.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of applying an adhesion primer layer for an imprint lithography process that includes contacting a fluid with a surface of a substrate in a coating process and initiating a chemical reaction that forms a covalent bond between a component in the fluid and the surface of the substrate such that an adhesion primer layer is adhered to the surface of the substrate. A polymeric layer may be adhered to the surface of the substrate coated with the adhesion primer layer. The method allows adhesion primer coating for double-sided imprinting applications including patterned magnetic media.

Abstract: A lithography method for forming nanoparticles includes patterning sacrificial material on a multilayer substrate. In some cases, the pattern is transferred to or into a removable layer of the multilayer substrate, and functional material is disposed on the removable layer of the multilayer substrate and solidified. At least a portion of the functional material is then removed to expose protrusions of the removable layer, and pillars of the functional material are released from the removable layer to yield nanoparticles. In other cases, the multilayer substrate includes the functional material, and the pattern is transferred to or into a removable layer of the multilayer substrate. The sacrificial layer is removed, and pillars of the functional material are released from the removable layer to yield nanoparticles.

Abstract: An imprint lithography template includes a porous material defining a multiplicity of pores with an average pore size of at least about 0.4 nm. The porous material includes silicon and oxygen, and a ratio of Young's modulus (E) to relative density of the porous material with respect to fused silica (?porous/?fused silica) is at least about 10:1. A refractive index of the porous material is between about 1.4 and 1.5. The porous material may form an intermediate layer or a cap layer of an imprint lithography template. The template may include a pore seal layer between a porous layer and a cap layer, or a pore seal layer on top of a cap layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving robust layer separation during the separation process of an imprint lithography process are described. Included are methods of matching strains between a substrate to be imprinted and the template, varying or modifying the forces applied to the template and/or the substrate during separation, or varying or modifying the kinetics of the separation process.

Abstract: A lithography method for forming nanoparticles includes patterning sacrificial material on a multilayer substrate. In some cases, the pattern is transferred to or into a removable layer of the multilayer substrate, and functional material is disposed on the removable layer of the multilayer substrate and solidified. At least a portion of the functional material is then removed to expose protrusions of the removable layer, and pillars of the functional material are released from the removable layer to yield nanoparticles. In other cases, the multilayer substrate includes the functional material, and the pattern is transferred to or into a removable layer of the multilayer substrate. The sacrificial layer is removed, and pillars of the functional material are released from the removable layer to yield nanoparticles.

Abstract: Droplets of polymerizable material may be patterned on a film sheet using a roll-to-roll system. The droplets of polymerizable material may be dispensed on the film sheet such that a substantially continuous patterned layer may be formed on the film sheet. A contact system provides for smooth fluid front progression the polymerizable material during imprinting. A gas purging system may be positioned during imprinting. Gas purging systems may provide for purging in parallel as fluid front of polymerizable material moves through roll-to-roll system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for improving robust layer separation during the separation process of an imprint lithography process are described. Included are methods of matching strains between a substrate to be imprinted and the template, varying or modifying the forces applied to the template and/or the substrate during separation, or varying or modifying the kinetics of the separation process.

Abstract: In nano-imprint lithography it is important to detect thickness non-uniformity of a residual layer formed on a substrate. Such non-uniformity is compensated such that a uniform residual layer may be formed. Compensation is performed by calculating a corrected fluid drop pattern.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for adhering a layer to a substrate that features defining first and second interfaces by having a composition present between the layer and the substrate that forms covalent bonds to the layer and adheres to the substrate employing one or more of covalent bonds, ionic bonds and Van der Waals forces. In this manner, the strength of the adhering force of the layer to the composition is assured to be stronger than the adhering force of the layer to the composition formed from a predetermined adhering mechanism, i.e., an adhering mechanism that does not include covalent bonding.

Abstract: Devices positioned between an energy source and an imprint lithography template may block exposure of energy to portions of polymerizable material dispensed on a substrate. Portions of the polymerizable material that are blocked from the energy may remain fluid, while the remaining polymerizable material is solidified.

Abstract: An imprint lithography template having a photoactive coating adhered to a surface of the template. Irradiation of the photoactive coating promotes cleaning of the template by decomposition of organic material proximate the template (e.g., organic material adsorbed on the template). An imprint lithography system may be configured such that template cleaning is achieved during formation of a patterned layer on an imprint lithography substrate. Cleaning of the template during an imprint lithography process reduces down-time that may be associated with template maintenance.

Abstract: Release agents with increased affinity toward nano-imprint lithography template surfaces interact strongly with the template during separation of the template from the solidified resist in a nano-imprint lithography process. The strong interaction between the surfactant and the template surface reduces the amount of surfactant pulled off the template surface during separation of a patterned layer from the template in an imprint lithography cycle. Maintaining more surfactant associated with the surface of the template after the separation of the patterned layer from the template may reduce the amount of surfactant needed in a liquid resist to achieve suitable release of the solidified resist from the template during an imprint lithography process. Strong association of the release agent with the surface of the template facilitates the formation of ultra-thin residual layers and dense fine features in nano-imprint lithography.

Abstract: Methods for creating nano-shaped patterns are described. This approach may be used to directly pattern substrates and/or create imprint lithography molds that may be subsequently used to directly replicate nano-shaped patterns into other substrates in a high throughput process.

Abstract: A method of determining overlay error between a template and a substrate using placement of template features and placement of substrate features in one or more images. Estimated distortion of the template and/or substrate may be determined using the overlay error. One or more forces acting on the template and/or substrate may be varied based on the estimated distortion for subsequent nano-lithography imprinting. Additionally, bias may be introduced in subsequent imprinting steps based on overlay performance.

Abstract: Nano imprint lithography templates for purging of fluid during nano imprint lithography processes are described. The templates may include an inner channel and an outer channel. The inner channel constructed to provide fluid communication with a process gas supply to a region between the template and a substrate during the nano imprint lithography process. The outer channel constructed to evacuate fluid and/or confine fluid between the active area of template and the substrate.

Abstract: A micro-conformal nanoimprint lithography template includes a backing layer and a nanopatterned layer adhered to the backing layer. The elastic modulus of the backing layer exceeds the elastic modulus of the nanopatterned layer. The micro-conformal nanoimprint lithography template can be used to form a patterned layer from an imprint resist on a substrate, the substrate having a micron-scale defect, such that an excluded distance from an exterior surface of the micron-scale defect to the patterned layer formed by the nanoimprint lithography template is less than a height of the defect. The nanoimprint lithography template can be used to form multiple imprints with no reduction in feature fidelity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method that attenuates, if not avoids, heating of a substrate undergoing imprint lithography process and the deleterious effects associated therewith. To that end, the present invention includes a method of patterning a field of a substrate with a polymeric material that solidifies in response to actinic energy in which a sub-portion of the field is exposed sufficient to cure the polymeric material is said sub-portion followed by a blanket exposure of all of the polymeric material associated with the entire field to cure/solidify the same.

Abstract: Imprint lithography may comprise generating a fluid map, generating a fluid drop pattern, and applying a fluid to a substrate according to the fluid drop pattern. The fluid drop pattern may be generated using a stochastic process such as a Monte Carlo or structured experiment over the expected range of process variability for drop locations and drop volumes. Thus, variability in drop placement, volume, or both may be compensated for, resulting in surface features being substantially filled with the fluid during imprint.