MSE Supplies offers services in custom photolithography for fabrication of patterned surfaces. Applications include fabrication of chemical sensors, biosensors, electrodes, and MEMs devices.

Photolithography is a process that uses ultraviolet (UV) light to pattern a light-sensitive coating (known as photoresist) deposited on a substrate. A mask is placed atop the photoresist to block UV light from illuminating certain areas, so that only unmasked regions are exposed to light. The geometric pattern in the photoresist is revealed by removing the unprocessed areas using an appropriate organic or aqueous solvent. We can offer both negative and positive photoresists for diverse applications.

The photoresist pattern is transferred to a thin metal film via two different techniques: metal lift-off or wet etching.

Metal Lift-Off: Metal lift-off is a process where a thin metal film is deposited atop the patterned photoresist. Next, the photoresist is dissolved to reveal the pattern of the metal film.

Wet Etching: For wet etching, the photoresist is deposited and patterned atop the metal film. Areas of the metal that are not protected by the photoresist are removed by carefully selected liquid chemicals. The photoresist is removed by a solvent, or via O₂ plasma, to reveal the pattern of the metal film.

Photolithography work is carried in a dedicated cleanroom facility equipped with environmental controls, ensuring high quality parts for our customers.

Capabilities

365nm highly collimated UV exposure system
Minimum feature resolution: 5µm
Circular substrates up to 6” diameter
Square substrates up to 4”x4”
Flexible substrates, glass, silicon wafer or customer's substrate

Please contact us for discussion and quote.