Category: Organic Coatings

In the fields of semiconductor manufacturing and microfabrication, photolithography is an essential technique that creates intricate patterns on substrate surfaces. The patterning process is used frequently in electronics, microfluidics, and sensors and creates a protective layer from additional manufacturing processes and mechanical wear during its final application. To create these patterns, a mask and photoresist are applied to the substrate and exposed to light. After exposure, the photoresist is developed using a chemical solution, and the unexposed sections of the photoresist are dissolved, resulting in the desired pattern.

Hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS) is a colorless, flammable liquid with a unique chemical structure. It is frequently used in surface science as a primer agent to treat the surfaces of silicon wafers and make them more suitable for adhesion with a photoresist. Using HMDS is also common as a pre- and post-treatment method for surface coating applications. In this blog post, we will look at how HMDS is used in surface science and the benefits of doing so.

Microfluidics has emerged as a powerful tool in recent years, specifically in the fields of biotechnology, chemistry, and materials science. It involves the careful control of tiny volumes of fluid, typically just a few picoliters, within nanoscale channels. Though small scale, the potential applications of microfluidic devices are vast. However – as with most micro- and nanoscale fabrications – engineering microfluidic devices can be a challenging prospect. 

Metal coatings are used across various industries and applications to improve the properties and performance of a substrate. Adding a metal coating can enhance a material’s appearance and resistance properties, among other characteristics, making it suitable for various applications, such as electronics, medical implants, and transportation components.

Infrared spectroscopy, typically infrared reflection absorption spectroscopy (IRRAS), is the favoured method used to characterise ultrathin layers like self-assembled monolayers. When infrared moves through a sample, some radiation is absorbed and some is transmitted. IR detectors acquire these characteristic signals to generate a spectrum which represents the sample’s molecular fingerprint. This highlights the inherent value of IR spectroscopy; it can be used to elucidate molecular compositions as a function of characteristic absorption/transmission spectra.