Novel 3D nanofabrication technique and its applications

Nano transfer printing and micro contact printing is well known printing method based on soft lithography which uses conformal soft elastomer with designed surface relief structures. Here I introduce another class of novel 3D nanofabrication technique by using the same elastomer but in a different manner. The approach, which we refer to as proximity field nanopatterning, uses the surface-reliefed elastomers as phase masks to pattern thick layers of transparent, photosensitive materials. Aspects of the optics, the materials, and the physical chemistry associated with this method are outlined. A range of 3D structures illustrate its capabilities, and several application examples demonstrate possible areas of use in technologies ranging from microfluidics to photonic materials to density gradient structures for chemical release and high-energy density science.