Simulations of non-uniform embossing:the effect of asymmetric neighbor cavities on polymer flow during nanoimprint lithography.

Schunk, Peter Randall ; King, William P. (Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA) ; Sun, Amy Cha-Tien ; Rowland, Harry D. (Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA)

Sandia National Laboratories

关键词: Polymers.;    Viscous Flow;    Nanotechnology.;    Nanostructures;    Flow Rate;   

DOI  :  10.2172/913532
RP-ID  :  SAND2007-4121
RP-ID  :  AC04-94AL85000
RP-ID  :  913532

美国|英语

来源: UNT Digital Library

【 摘 要 】

This paper presents continuum simulations of viscous polymer flow during nanoimprint lithography (NIL) for embossing tools having irregular spacings and sizes. Simulations varied non-uniform embossing tool geometry to distinguish geometric quantities governing cavity filling order, polymer peak deformation, and global mold filling times. A characteristic NIL velocity predicts cavity filling order. In general, small cavities fill more quickly than large cavities, while cavity spacing modulates polymer deformation mode. Individual cavity size, not total filling volume, dominates replication time, with large differences in individual cavity size resulting in non-uniform, squeeze flow filling. High density features can be modeled as a solid indenter in squeeze flow to accurately predict polymer flow and allow for optimization of wafer-scale replication. The present simulations make it possible to design imprint templates capable of distributing pressure evenly across the mold surface and facilitating symmetric polymer flow over large areas to prevent mold deformation and non-uniform residual layer thickness.