Abstract: A pattern is formed on a substrate with forming a layer of a curable composition (A1) containing a component (a1) as a polymerizable compound and a component (c1) as a surfactant on a surface of the substrate, then dispensing droplets of a curable composition (A2) containing a component (a2) as a polymerizable compound and a component (c2) as a surfactant dropwise discretely onto the layer formed of the curable composition (A1), subsequently sandwiching a mixture layer of the curable composition (A1) and the curable composition (A2) between a mold having a pattern and the substrate, then irradiating the mixture layer with light to cure the mixture layer, and releasing the mold from the mixture layer after the curing. The curable composition (A1) containing at least 0.5 wt % or more of the component (c1), the curable composition (A2) containing at least 0.5 wt % or more of the component (c2).

Abstract: A pattern is formed on a substrate with forming a layer of a curable composition (A1) containing a component (a1) serving as a polymerizable compound (a1) and a component (b1) serving as a photopolymerization initiator on a surface of the substrate, then dispensing droplets of a curable composition (A2) containing a component (a2) serving as a polymerizable compound (a2) and a component (b2) serving as a photopolymerization initiator dropwise discretely onto the layer of the curable composition (A1), subsequently sandwiching a mixture layer of the curable composition (A1) and the curable composition (A2) between a mold and the substrate, then irradiating the mixture layer with light to cure the mixture layer, and releasing the mold from the mixture layer after the curing.

Abstract: An imprint lithography template or imprinting stack includes a porous material defining a multiplicity of pores with an average pore size of at least about 0.4 nm. A porosity of the porous material is at least about 10%. The porous template, the porous imprinting stack, or both may be used in an imprint lithography process to facilitate diffusion of gas trapped between the template and the imprinting stack into the template, the imprinting stack or both, such that polymerizable material between the imprinting stack and the template rapidly forms a substantially continuous layer between the imprinting stack and the template.

Abstract: Methods of reversing the tone of a pattern having non-uniformly sized features. The methods include depositing a highly conformal hard mask layer over the patterned layer with a non-planar protective coating and etch schemes for minimizing critical dimension variations.

Abstract: Imprint lithography methods that incorporate depositing droplets of polymerizable material in patterns that improve fill time performance when employing directionally-oriented imprint templates. The patterns are based on grid arrays formed of repeating sets of rows of droplets oriented along fast and slow axes, with droplets of each row offset along the slow axis relative to droplets in adjacent rows.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods that use alpha-ionizers to discharge electrostatic charge accumulated on the working surfaces of imprint lithography templates and/or substrates.

Abstract: A nanoimprint lithography method includes disposing a pretreatment composition on a substrate to form a pretreatment coating. The pretreatment composition includes a polymerizable component. Discrete imprint resist portions are disposed on the pretreatment coating, with each discrete portion of the imprint resist covering a target area of the substrate. A composite polymerizable coating is formed on the substrate as each discrete portion of the imprint resist spreads beyond its target area. The composite polymerizable coating includes a mixture of the pretreatment composition and the imprint resist. The composite polymerizable coating is contacted with a template, and is polymerized to yield a composite polymeric layer on the substrate. The interfacial surface energy between the pretreatment composition-and air exceeds the interfacial surface energy between the imprint resist and air or between at least a component of the imprint resist and air.

Abstract: A nanoimprint lithography method includes disposing a pretreatment composition on a substrate to form a pretreatment coating. The pretreatment composition includes a polymerizable component. Discrete imprint resist portions are disposed on the pretreatment coating, with each discrete portion of the imprint resist covering a target area of the substrate. A composite polymerizable coating is formed on the substrate as each discrete portion of the imprint resist spreads beyond its target area. The composite polymerizable coating includes a mixture of the pretreatment composition and the imprint resist. The composite polymerizable coating is contacted with a template, and is polymerized to yield a composite polymeric layer on the substrate. The interfacial surface energy between the pretreatment composition and air exceeds the interfacial surface energy between the imprint resist and air or between at least a component of the imprint resist and air.

Abstract: Porous nano-imprint lithography templates may include pores, channels, or porous layers arranged to allow evacuation of gas trapped between a nano-imprint lithography template and substrate. The pores or channels may be formed by etch or other processes. Gaskets may be formed on an nano-imprint lithography template to restrict flow of polymerizable material during nano-imprint lithography processes.

Abstract: Control of lateral strain and lateral strain ratio (dt/db) between template and substrate through the selection of template and/or substrate thicknesses (Tt and/or Tb), control of template and/or substrate back pressure (Pt and/or Pb), and/or selection of material stiffness are described.

Abstract: Imprint lithography templates having alignment marks with highly absorptive material. The alignment marks are insensitive to the effects of liquid spreading and can provide stability and increase contrast to alignment system during liquid imprint filling of template features.

Abstract: Imprint lithography templates having alignment marks with highly absorptive material. The alignment marks are insensitive to the effects of liquid spreading and can provide stability and increase contrast to alignment system during liquid imprint filling of template features.

Abstract: Control of lateral strain and lateral strain ratio (dt/db) between template and substrate through the selection of template and/or substrate thicknesses (Tt and/or Tb), control of template and/or substrate back pressure (Pt and/or Pb), and/or selection of material stiffness are described.

Abstract: Imprint lithography methods that incorporate depositing droplets of polymerizable material in patterns that improve fill time performance when employing directionally-oriented imprint templates. The patterns are based on grid arrays formed of repeating sets of rows of droplets oriented along fast and slow axes, with droplets of each row offset along the slow axis relative to droplets in adjacent rows.

Abstract: Provided is an imprint apparatus that applies a resin to several locations on a substrate, brings the resin and a mold into contact, and transfers a contoured pattern formed in the mold to the resin, comprising: a controller that sets a principal axis direction according to the contoured pattern and determines the application positions of the resin based on the principal axis direction that has been set such that the distances between resin drops that have been applied so as to be separated in the principal axis direction is larger than the distances between resin drops that have been applied so as to be separated in a direction that is perpendicular to the principal axis direction; and a dispenser that applies the resin based on the application position that has been determined.

Abstract: Provided is an imprint apparatus that applies a resin (drops) dispersed, at a plurality of locations on a substrate, brings the resin and a mold into contact, and transfers the contoured pattern that is formed in the mold to the resin comprising: a controller that sets a principal axis direction according to the contoured pattern and an array direction in which a plurality of resin drops are aligned, and determines application positions for the resin such that the array direction is angled with respect to the principal axis direction; and a dispenser that applies the resin based on the application positions that have been determined.

Abstract: Detection of periodically repeating nanovoids is indicative of levels of substrate contamination and may aid in reduction of contaminants on substrates. Systems and methods for detecting nanovoids, in addition to, systems and methods for cleaning and/or maintaining cleanliness of substrates are described.

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: 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.