We report a new patterning method, called light-stamping lithography (LSL), that uses UV-induced adhesion of poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS). LSL is based on the direct transfer of the contact surface of the PDMS stamp to a substrate via a UV (254 nm)-induced surface bonding between the stamp and the substrate. This procedure can be adopted in automated printing machines that generate patterns with a wide range of feature sizes on diverse substrates. To demonstrate its usefulness, the LSL method was applied to prepare several PDMS patterns on a variety of substrates. The PDMS patterns were then used as templates for selective deposition of TiO2 thin film using atomic layer deposition as well as resists for selective wet etching.

Purpose: Microcontact printing is a process used to print high resolution protein arrays for biosensors. We investigate using these techniques to print electrically conductive fine line structures for electroluminescent (E/L) light sources. Approach:The viability of using microcontact printing as a process for electronics fabrication is investigated. Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) stamps inked with alkanethiol compounds form Self Assembled Monolayers (SAM) on substrate surfaces, acting as the resist to subsequent etching processes. The printed lines are characterized with regard to their performance as high electric field generators in electroluminescent displays. Findings:It has been demonstrated that microcontact printing is a cheap, repeatable process for fabricating electronic devices. The results demonstrate the viability of the process to fabricate electric field generator structures for E/L light sources with reduced driving voltages.Value: It has been demonstrated that microcontact printing can produce electrically conductive fine-line structures with high resolution, confirming its viability in printed electronics manufacture.

No abstract