Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of forming a layer on a region of a substrate, the method including, inter alia, positioning a liquid on the substrate; and contacting the liquid with the mold, defining a gap between the mold and the substrate, with the gap enabling positioning of the liquid by capillary forces to generate the layer over the region.

Abstract: A system of patterning first and second opposed sides of a substrate is described. The system may employ a mold assembly and obtaining a desired spatial relationship between the first and second opposed sides of the substrate and the mold assembly. In a further embodiment, the method and system may employ a first and a second mold assembly.

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 nano-imprint lithography system is described for patterning first and second substrates, the system includes a translation stage constructed to alternatively place substrate chucks in position with respect to a nano-imprint mold assembly such that the nano-imprint mold assembly may imprint a pattern on one of the substrates, while concurrently obtaining a desired spatial relationship for the remaining substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing identification patterns on substrates are described.

Abstract: Described are imprint lithography templates, methods of forming and using the templates, and a template holder device. An imprint lithography template may include a body with a plurality of recesses on a surface of the body. The body may be of a material that is substantially transparent to activating light. At least a portion of the plurality of recesses may define features having a feature size less than about 250 nm. A template may be formed by obtaining a material that is substantially transparent to activating light and forming a plurality or recesses on a surface of the template. In some embodiments, a template may further include at least one alignment mark. In some embodiments, a template may further include a gap sensing area. An imprint lithography template may be used to form an imprinted layer in a light curable liquid disposed on a substrate. During use, the template may be disposed within a template holder.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for patterning a substrate with a template having a mold that features positioning conformable material between the substrate and the mold and filling a volume defined between the mold and the substrate with the conformable material through capillary action between the conformable material and one of the mold and the substrate. Thereafter, the conformable material is solidified. Specifically, the distance between the mold and the substrate is controlled to a sufficient degree to attenuate, if not avoid, compressive forces between the mold and the substrate. As a result, upon initial contact of the mold with the conformable material, spontaneous capillary filling of the volume between the mold and the substrate occurs.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and processes for forming imprint lithography templates from a multi-layer substrate are described. The multi-layer substrate may include a block copolymer layer positioned on a substrate layer. The block copolymer layer may include two or more domains. At least one domain may have a different composition sensitivity than another domain such that the domains have different reactions to a specific process. Reaction of the domains to the specific process may provide a pattern in the block copolymer layer. The pattern may be transferred into the substrate layer to form the imprint lithography template.

Abstract: Separation of an imprint lithography template and a patterned layer in an imprint lithography process may result in stress to features of the template and/or features of the patterned layer. Such stress may be reduced by minimizing open areas on the template, including dummy features within the open areas, and/or selective positioning of features on the template.

Abstract: The present invention includes a conforming template for patterning liquids disposed on substrates. The template includes a body having opposed first and second surfaces. The first surface includes a plurality of recessed regions with a patterning region being disposed between adjacent recessed regions. Specifically, the recessed regions define flexure regions about which each patterning region may move independent of the remaining patterning regions of the template. In one embodiment the template is mounted to a fluid chamber having an inlet and a throughway. The template is connected to the throughway and the inlet is connected to a fluid source to facilitate deformation of the template to conform to a profile of a surface adjacent thereto.

Abstract: Patterned active layers formed by nano-imprint lithography for use in devices such as photovoltaic cells and hybrid solar cells. One such photovoltaic cell includes a first electrode and a first electrically conductive layer electrically coupled to the first electrode. The first conductive layer has a multiplicity of protrusions and recesses formed by a nano-imprint lithography process. A second electrically conductive layer substantially fills the recesses and covers the protrusions of the first conductive layer, and a second electrode is electrically coupled to the second conductive layer. A circuit electrically connects the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a method and a system of expelling a gas positioned between a substrate and a mold, the substrate and the mold further having a liquid positioned therebetween.

Abstract: Particles may be present on substrates and/or templates during nano-lithographic imprinting. Particles may be mitigated and/or removed using localized removal techniques and/or imprinting techniques as described.

Abstract: A lithography process for creating patterns in an activating light curable liquid using electric fields followed by curing of the activating light curable liquid is described. The process involves the use of a template that is formed of non-conductive and electrically conductive portions. The template is brought into close proximity to the activating light curable liquid on the substrate. An external electric field is applied to the template-substrate interface while maintaining a uniform, carefully controlled gap between the template and substrate. This causes the activating light curable liquid to be attracted to the raised portions of the template. Activating light is applied to the curable liquid while an electric field is applied to the template to create a patterned layer on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a method and a system of patterning first and second opposed sides of a substrate. The method and system may employ a mold assembly and obtaining a desired spatial relationship between the first and second opposed sides of the substrate and the mold assembly. In a further embodiment, the method and system may employ a first and a second mold assembly.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a method for patterning first and second substrates in a nanoimprint lithography system, the method including, inter alia, positioning the first substrate on a first substrate chuck; positioning a nanoimprint material on the first substrate; obtaining a spatial relationship between the first substrate and a nanoimprint mold assembly and imprinting a pattern in the nanoimprint material on the first substrate with the nanoimprint mold assembly while concurrently positioning the second substrate on a second substrate chuck; separating the nanoimprint mold assembly from the nanoimprint material on the first substrate; positioning a nanoimprint material on the second substrate; removing the first substrate from the first substrate chuck while concurrently obtaining a spatial relationship between the second substrate and the nanoimprint mold assembly and imprinting a pattern in the nanoimprint material on the second substrate with the nanoimprint mold assembly; and separati

Abstract: The present invention provides a method to pattern a substrate which features creating a multi-layered structure by forming, on the substrate, a patterned layer having protrusions and recessions. Formed upon the patterned layer is a conformal layer, with the multi-layered structure having a crown surface facing away from the substrate. Portions of the multi-layered structure are removed to expose regions of the substrate in superimposition with the protrusions, while forming a hard mask in areas of the crown surface in superimposition with the recessions.

Abstract: Adaptive nanotopography sculpting may be used to alter nanotopography and roughness without altering the nominal shape of a surface. Generally, adaptive nanotopography sculpting provides a surface having desired shape characteristics. Topography of a first surface is mapped to provide a density map. The density map is evaluated to provide a drop pattern for dispensing polymerizable material on the first surface. The polymerizable material is solidified and etched to provide a second surface having the desired shape characteristics.

Abstract: The present invention includes a substrate support system having a chuck body. The chuck body includes a body surface with a pin extending therefrom having a contact surface lying in a plane. The pin may be movably coupled to the chuck body to move with respect to the plane. The pin may also include a cross-member having multiple contact lands.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a method of separating a mold, included in a template, from a layer disposed on a substrate, the method including, inter alia, applying a separation force to the template to separate the template from the layer; and facilitating localized deformation in the substrate to reduce the separation force required to achieve separation.