Abstract: A dissolvable polymer thin film of polyvinyl alcohol is manufactured and placed in contact with the skin, or through a moisturizing layer by a cream, and lightly sprayed on the exposed side with water to achieve conformal contact with the skin by transition from a solid state, to a partial liquid/solid state, and then back to solid state upon drying. After the polymer thin film dries, which undergoes a tightening effect on the surface of the skin, a number of advantages are achieved, including a smoothed appearance, firmness, prevention of loss due to evaporation of the intervening cream thereby improving residence time of the hydrating agents, deeper diffusion of hydrating elements into the skin through a reduced volume.

Abstract: A method of forming a master from smaller originals is provided for use in replicating molecular transfer lithography (M×L) templates, cured polymer films for imprinting molds or cured polymer films for photonic applications. A coating layer on a base substrate is successively patterned in two or more areas using dissoluble conformal templates created from original master patterns, wherein areas not being patterned with a template at any given stage of the process are protected with photoresist and templates applied to open areas also partially overlap the resist-protected areas. Overlapping minimizes seam formation in the overall pattern. Templates have etch-resistant functional material that adheres to the coating layer on the base substrate. After dissolving the template to leave only the functional material in the pattern of the original master, etching of the coating layer transfers the pattern to the etched coating layer of the base substrate.

Abstract: A system and method to implement a molecular transfer lithography process is described. A destroyable nanopatterned template coated with functional material is attached to a removable carrier that is held suspended over a substrate, and a shaped pressure pad brings the functional material into contact with the substrate, initiating adhesion of the functional material to the surface of the substrate, and then detracting the pressure pad from the substrate. The substrate with destroyable template and removable carrier is then sent for further processing. In a preferred embodiment, the system and method are used to process a patterned polyvinyl alcohol template coated with a functional material that is thermal adhered to a substrate and after pressing, subjected to a water bath to dissolve away the template and carrier, leaving the functional material patterned on the substrate.