Stamping Lithography: An Undergraduate Experiment in Nanotechnology

TCE

The Chemical Educator

ISSN: 1430-4171 (electronic version)

Table of Contents

Abstract Volume 13 Issue 4 (2008) pp 236-239

Stamping Lithography: An Undergraduate Experiment in Nanotechnology

Jeremiah K.N. Mbindyo,^†,* Stephen A. Michaylira,^‡ and David M. DeMarco^†

Departments of Chemistry^† and Industry and Technology^‡, Millersville University, P.O. Box 1002, Millersville PA 17551-0302, jmbindyo@millersville.edu
Received January 14, 2007. Accepted June 10, 2007.

Published online: 21 July 2008

Abstract. An experiment that demonstrates stamping lithography, a process which may substitute photolithographic printing in microelectronics is described. A stamp is created by curing polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) on a patterned template, and a glass slide coated with Ag using electroless plating. The stamp is then inked with 5 mM of undecanethiol in ethanol, dried and brought into brief contact with the Ag. Thiol molecules transfer instantaneously onto the Ag, forming patterns of self assembled monolayer (SAM) of undecanethiol which replicate raised features on the stamp. A ferrocyanide/ferricyanide solution is used to etch portions of the Ag that are not protected by the SAM, resulting in a pattern on the glass that is a replica of the original template.

Key Words: Laboratories and Demonstrations; general chemistry; nanotechnology, stamping lithography

(*) Corresponding author. (E-mail: jmbindyo@millersville.edu)

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