Fabrication of metallic nanopatterns using the vacuum type UV-NIL equipment

Nanoscale dot patterns of cobalt alloy were formed on a silicon substrate using the ultra-violet nanoimprint lithography (UV-NIL) technology in combination with an electrodeposition process. We developed an improved UV-NIL equipment that can evacuate the chamber during imprinting. Using this equipment, we successfully imprinted 240-nm dot patterns with 500 nm pitch on a photocurable resin with high dimensional accuracy. Thickness control of the resin and imprinting under vacuum are important issues to obtain fine nanopatterns. Using these resin patterns as a mask layer, 300-nm cobalt alloy patterns are successfully formed by the electrodeposition process.