Programmable deposition of thin films of a user-defined profile with nanometer scale accuracy
US9718096B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 12, 2016 |
| Grant date | Aug 1, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 12, 2036 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L21/31055
- WIPO fieldSurface technology, coating
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
An inkjet-based process for programmable deposition of thin films of a user-defined profile. Drops of a pre-cursor liquid organic material are dispensed at various locations on a substrate by a multi-jet. A superstrate is held in a roll-to-roll configuration such that a first contact of the drops is made by a front side of the superstrate thereby initiating a liquid front that spreads outward merging with the drops to form a contiguous film captured between the substrate and the superstrate. A non-equilibrium transient state of the superstrate, the contiguous film and the substrate then occurs after a duration of time. The contiguous film is then cured to crosslink it into a polymer. The superstrate is then separated from the polymer thereby leaving a polymer film on the substrate. In such a manner, non-uniform films can be formed without significant material wastage in an inexpensive manner.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.