IMPRINT LITHOGRAPHY APPARATUS AND METHOD

摘要

A method of imprint lithography involves the use of a void space in the substrate or imprint template. A gas pocket trapped between an imprint template and an imprintable, flowable medium on the substrate may lead to an irregularity once the imprintable medium has set. A void space allows the gas pocket to dissipate by flow or diffusion of gas into the void space, typically prior to setting the imprintable medium. A layer of solid porous medium as part of the imprint template, for instance as a layer forming or neighbouring the patterning surface of the template, may provide the void space. The void space of the porous layer acts as a void space into which the trapped gas can flow or diffuse. The substrate to be patterned may include a porous layer for the same purpose. A suitable solid porous medium includes a nanoporous silica.