Nanoimprinting

Despite streaming and high bandwidth internet connection: Compact discs (CDs) and Blue-rays are an integral part of our lives. The fabrication technology behind is based on molding of polymers, a method also very appealing in devices research. Nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is an unconventional lithographic technique for patterning polymeric nanostructures with high-throughput featuring great precision and potentially low costs. NIL relies on direct mechanical deformation of a resist material by a high fidelity master stamp and can therefore achieve resolutions beyond the limitations encountered in other techniques. Surface plasmonic research, CO2 reduction in electro-photocatalytic cells, optical elements or magnonic crystals to mention few, the imprinting technology provides a powerful toolbox. Even more, when avoiding polymers in the so-called direct Nanotransfer Printing (nanoTP) process, metal contacts can be directly fabricated on sensitive materials like self-assembled monolayers or 2D materials.