Abstract:
The invention provides a carrier particle comprising a core of silica and/or alumina which core has a diameter in the range of from 10 nm to 10 µm, a hydrophobic layer enveloping the core, and a layer of amphiphilic molecules enveloping the hydrophobic layer. The invention further relates to processes for preparing said particle and the use of said particle. The particle suitably carries one or more diagnostic and/or one or more therapeutic agents for use in bio-applications.
Abstract:
A method of lithography on a substrate uses a self-assembled polymer (SAP) layer deposited on the substrate, with first and second domains arranged in a pattern across the layer. A planarization layer is formed over the SAP and a development etch applied to substantially remove a portion of the planarization layer over the second domain leaving a cap of the planarization layer substantially covering the first domain. The uncapped second domain is then removed from the surface by a breakthrough etch leaving the capped first domain as a pattern feature on the surface. A transfer etch may then be used to transfer the pattern feature to the substrate using the capped first domain. The capping allows the second domain to be removed, e.g., without excessive loss of lateral feature width for the remaining first domain, even when the difference in etch resistance between the first and second domains is small.
Abstract:
A method of lithography on a substrate uses a self-assembled polymer (SAP) layer deposited on the substrate, with first and second domains arranged in a pattern across the layer. A planarization layer is formed over the SAP and a development etch applied to substantially remove a portion of the planarization layer over the second domain leaving a cap of the planarization layer substantially covering the first domain. The uncapped second domain is then removed from the surface by a breakthrough etch leaving the capped first domain as a pattern feature on the surface. A transfer etch may then be used to transfer the pattern feature to the substrate using the capped first domain. The capping allows the second domain to be removed, e.g., without excessive loss of lateral feature width for the remaining first domain, even when the difference in etch resistance between the first and second domains is small.
Abstract:
A self-assemblable polymer is disclosed, having first and second molecular configurations with the first molecular configuration has a higher Flory Huggins parameter for the self-assemblable polymer than the second molecular configuration, and the self-assemblable polymer is configurable from the first molecular configuration to the second molecular configuration, from the second molecular configuration to the first molecular configuration, or both, by the application of a stimulus. The polymer is of use in a method for providing an ordered, periodically patterned layer of the polymer on a substrate, by ordering and annealing the polymer in its second molecular configuration and setting the polymer when it is in the first molecular configuration. The second molecular configuration provides better ordering kinetics and permits annealing of defects near its order/disorder transition temperature, while the first molecular configuration, with a higher order/disorder transition temperature, provides low line edge/width roughness for the pattern formed on setting.
Abstract:
A block copolymer, adapted to self-assemble to form an ordered pattern on a substrate, has first and second blocks with a terminal moiety covalently bonded to the end of the first block. The molecular weight of the terminal moiety is 20% or less than that of the block copolymer and the terminal moiety has a low chemical affinity for the first block. The terminal moiety can assist the accurate positional placement of the domains of the ordered array and lead to improved critical dimension uniformity and/or reduced line edge roughness. The polymer may be useful in combination with a graphoepitaxy template, where the terminal moiety is chosen to associate with a sidewall of the template. This may reduce undesired aggregation of polymer domains at a sidewall and/or assist in domain placement accuracy.
Abstract:
A method is disclosed involving depositing a neutral orientation template layer onto a substrate after formation of chemical epitaxy or graphoepitaxy features on the substrate, but before deposition and orientation of a self-assemblable polymer. The orientation layer is arranged to bond with the substrate but not with certain features, so that it may be easily removed by vacuum or rinsing with organic solvent. The neutral orientation layer has a chemical affinity to match that of blocks in the self-assemblable polymer so that blocks of differing types wet the neutral orientation layer so that domains in the self-assembled polymer may lie side by side along the substrate surface, with interfaces normal to the substrate surface. The resulting aligned and oriented self-assembled polymer may itself be used as a resist for device lithography of the substrate.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a photovoltaic cell device with combined energy conversion and lighting option and a method a controlling such a device. It comprises a responsive element, a reflector or a light source for changing light absorption and thus appearance of photovoltaic cells (e.g. solar panel). It is also possible to combine the responsive element or the reflector with light source(s) providing extra illumination. When combined with a sensor and control unit, ambient intelligent solar panels and ambient intelligent lighting systems can be obtained. A combination of a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) and light-emitting device is also possible, where an energy storage device is charged by a photovoltaic cell upon irradiation. The energy storage powers one or more light sources which are coupled to the sides of the luminescent plate. The light emitted by the light sources is coupled into the plate and (partly) converted by the luminescent plate. This results in a plate that homogeneously emits light.
Abstract:
A method for providing an ordered polymer layer at a surface of a substrate includes depositing a self-assemblable polymer layer directly onto a primer layer on a substrate to provide an interface between the self-assemblable polymer layer and the primer layer, and treating the self-assemblable polymer layer to provide self-assembly into an ordered polymer layer, such as a block copolymer, having first and second domain types at the interface. The primer layer is adapted to improve its chemical affinity to each domain type at the interface, in response to the presence of the respective domain type in the self-assembled polymer at the interface during the self-assembly of the self-assemblable polymer layer into the ordered polymer layer. This may lead to reduction in defect levels and/or improved persistence length for the ordered polymer layer. The method may be useful for forming resist layers for use in device lithography.
Abstract:
The invention relates to a luminescent converter(101) that may for example be used as a luminescent solar concentrator(LSC) in a solar power generator(100). The luminescent converter(101) comprises magic-sized clusters (110), MSCs, of a luminescent material. Preferably, said luminescent material comprises a compound of two elements from groups IV and VI, for example PbSe. The MSCs(110) may be embedded in a transparent light guiding element(120) or be embedded in a thin film on a surface thereof.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a photovoltaic cell device with combined energy conversion and lighting option and a method a controlling such a device. It comprises a responsive element, a reflector or a light source for changing light absorption and thus appearance of photovoltaic cells (e.g. solar panel). It is also possible to combine the responsive element or the reflector with light source(s) providing extra illumination. When combined with a sensor and control unit, ambient intelligent solar panels and ambient intelligent lighting systems can be obtained. A combination of a luminescent solar concentrator (LSC) and light-emitting device is also possible, where an energy storage device is charged by a photovoltaic cell upon irradiation. The energy storage powers one or more light sources which are coupled to the sides of the luminescent plate. The light emitted by the light sources is coupled into the plate and (partly) converted by the luminescent plate. This results in a plate that homogeneously emits light.