micro nano pico scale engineering

Microcontact Printing & Nanoimprint Lithography Platform


The Microcontact-Printing system µ-CP2.1 combines silicon- and PDMS- micro-systems technology where the silicon based master-chips are used to cast the PDMS elastomeric stamps. The compact desktop instrument prints micrometer and submicrometer patterns in a semi automatic way.

Microcontact-Printing transfers regular patterns like lines, rectangles, donuts to the target substrate. The PDMS stamps are immersed in or rolled onto the sample. This process is called "Inking". Then the stamp is pressed against the target controlled by air pressure. The machine functionalizes up to four stamps by inking and drying. Subsequently each stamp touches down onto the target substrate. It is arranged on a vernier drive. Thus different patterns from different materials can be well aligned to each other.

Features:
  • Ink- and dry-station manages up to four stamps simultaneously
  • Ink pads are exchangeable (preventing contamination)
  • Video microscope integration for precision alignment and dispensing verification
  • Alignment accuracy of 5 microns for printing a second layer on top of the first one
  • Fast stamp preparation:2-3 minutes
    Stamp procedure: 15s-60s
  • Standard target size:25 x 75 mm.
    Customer-specific sizes possible.
  • Overall dimensions:50 x 50 x 45 cm
    Weight ~25 kg
  • Prerequisites:230 V
    Dry pressurized air or Nitrogen:5 bar max

Microcontact Dispensing System

GeSiM µ-Contact Printing Process:
  • The deflected PDMS-stamp membrane is in a convex shape
  • The convex stamp-membrane is positioned in the direction of the substrate to generate a initial bond contact between stamp and substrate
  • The convex stamp travels in µ-meter step resolution into the substrate direction to create the bond wave (visible in video)
  • The stamp motion finishes when the whole stamp-membrane gets in contact to the substrate. The pressure controlled stamp chamber and the homogeneous contact between stamp and substrate cause isostatic force effects that are given over the whole stamp, which is controlled using the pressure in the stamp chamber. This "roof collapse effect" ensures very accurate printing.