A METHOD OF SELECTIVELY MASKING ONE OR MORE SITES ON A SURFACE AND A METHOD OF SYNTHESISING AN ARRAY OF MOLECULES

摘要

A method of creating a mask on a surface of a substrate is disclosed. The substrate comprises a plurality of spaced heating elements on or proximal to the surface. The method comprises applying a layer of masking material to the surface and employing the heating elements to apply energy to the masking material at selected sites, whereby the applied energy brings about a phase change in the masking material at the selected sites such that it adheres to the surface or can be displaced from the surface to mask or unmask the selected sites respectively. A method of synthesising an array of molecules, an apparatus for selectively masking one or more sites on a surface and a semiconductor chip that uses micro-heaters to modulate a masking layer on areas of the chip surface.