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electron beam lithography. Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages,<br />

and all are expensive. If the mainstream microprocessor technology is to progress,<br />

then there must be a significant departure from the lithography cost trend in the near<br />

future.<br />

1.4 IMPRINT LITHOGRAPHY<br />

Many research groups are exploring altern<strong>at</strong>ive forms <strong>of</strong> imprint lithography<br />

as an inexpensive p<strong>at</strong>terning method capable <strong>of</strong> sub-100 nm resolution on various<br />

substr<strong>at</strong>es. 8-13 Imprint equipment requires precision X-Y stages, layer-to-layer<br />

alignment systems, and wafer handling equipment common to other lithography<br />

techniques, but imprint lithography realizes significant cost savings because it does<br />

not require lasers or projection optics. Imprint lithography has several important<br />

advantages over conventional optical lithography and NGL techniques: It is non-<br />

optical by design, and the resolution appears to be limited only by the structures th<strong>at</strong><br />

can be gener<strong>at</strong>ed in a master templ<strong>at</strong>e. Imprint templ<strong>at</strong>es are typically fabric<strong>at</strong>ed<br />

using imaging tools such as electron beam writers th<strong>at</strong> provide high resolution but<br />

lack the throughput required for mass production. By using imprint templ<strong>at</strong>es<br />

defined by e-beam lithography, imprint lithography makes use <strong>of</strong> this resolution<br />

capability without being limited by e-beam throughput issues. Since the main<br />

advances required to improve resolution are expected to be in the area <strong>of</strong> the imprint<br />

templ<strong>at</strong>e development and process chemistry, an imprint tool built for one<br />

technology gener<strong>at</strong>ion could conceivably extend to future technology nodes.<br />

<strong>The</strong>re are many imprint lithography techniques, all based on the concept th<strong>at</strong><br />

a templ<strong>at</strong>e or mold with a prefabric<strong>at</strong>ed topography is pressed into a displaceable<br />

9

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