Abstract:
The present invention provides a method and composition for providing preferential adhesion and release of adjacent surfaces, that features solidifying a composition to form a solidified layer having first and second opposed sides, with the first side facing a first surface and being adhered thereto with a first adhesive forces and the second side facing the second surface and being adhered thereto with a second adhesive force, with the first and second adhesive forces establishing a predetermined preferential adhesion ratio. Generally, the first surface is covalently bonded to the first side and adhesion between the second side and the second surface occurs through Van der Waal forces. It has been found that the use of a fluorine group for enhancing the release properties (as a priori fluorinated release layer or a fluorinated release agent) is no longer needed for such method and composition. In one embodiment, the composition can be formed from an isobornyl acrylate component; an aliphatic urethane acrylate component; a 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate component; and a 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one component. The first surface can be formed by polymerizing a compound formed from a multi-functional component that contains functional groups facilitating the formation of covalent bonds with the above mentioned polymerizable composition during an imprinting process, a cross-linking agent component, a catalyst component, and a solvent component. The second surface is usually a patterned or smoothed portion of a quartz mold.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The field of invention relates generally to nano-fabrication of structures. More particularly, the present invention is directed to a method for adhering differing materials together that is suitable for use in imprint lithographic processes and a composition thereof. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Nano-scale fabrication involves the fabrication of very small structures, e.g., having features on the order of 100 nanometers or less. A promising process for use in nano-scale fabrication is known as imprint lithography. Exemplary imprint lithography processes are described in detail in numerous publications, such as United States Patent Application Publication No. 20040065976 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/264,960), entitled “Method and a Mold to Arrange Features on a Substrate to Replicate Features having Minimal Dimensional Variability,” filed Oct. 4, 2002; United States Patent Application Publication No. 20040065252 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/264,926), entitled “Method of Forming a Layer on a Substrate to Facilitate Fabrication of Metrology Standards,” filed Oct. 4, 2002; and United States Patent Application Publication No. 20040046271 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/235,314), entitled “Method and a Mold to Arrange Features on a Substrate to Replicate Features having Minimal Dimensions Variability,” filed Sep. 5, 2002. All of these applications were assigned to the assignee of the present Application, and are incorporated by reference herein. 
         [0003]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a basic concept underlying imprint lithography is forming a relief pattern on a substrate that may function as, inter alia, an etching mask so that a pattern may be formed into the substrate that corresponds to the relief pattern. For example, a system  10  that can be employed to form such a relief pattern can include a stage  11  upon which a substrate  12  is supported, and further can include a template  14  having a mold  16  with a patterning surface  18  thereon. Patterning surface  18  may be substantially smooth and/or planar, or may be patterned so that one or more recesses are formed therein. Template  14  can be coupled to an imprint head  20  to facilitate movement of template  14 . A fluid dispense system  22  can be coupled within the system  10  such that it is selectively placed in fluid communication with substrate  12  in order to deposit polymerizable material  24  thereon. A source  26  of energy  28  is coupled to direct energy  28  along a path  30 . Generally, imprint head  20  and stage  11  are configured to arrange mold  16  and substrate  12 , respectively, to be in superimposition, and disposed in path  30 . Imprint head  20 , stage  11 , or both vary a distance between mold  16  and substrate  12  to define a desired volume therebetween that is filled by polymerizable material  24 . 
         [0004]    Typically, polymerizable material  24  is disposed upon substrate  12  before the desired volume is defined between mold  16  and substrate  12 . However, polymerizable material  24  may fill the volume after the desired volume has been obtained. After the desired volume is filled with polymerizable material  24 , source  26  produces energy  28 , which causes polymerizable material  24  to solidify and/or crosslink, thus forming polymeric material conforming to the shape of the substrate surface  25  and mold surface  18 . Control of this process can be regulated by processor  32  (that is in data communication with stage  11 , imprint head  20 , fluid dispense system  22 , and source  26 ) operating on a computer-readable program stored in memory  34 . 
         [0005]    One criteria associated with accurately forming the pattern in the polymerizable material is to reduce, if not prevent, adhesion to the mold of the polymeric material, while ensuring suitable adhesion to the substrate. This is referred to as preferential release and adhesion properties. By preferential release and adhesions, the pattern recorded in the polymeric material is not distorted during separation of the mold. In the prior art, attempts to improve the release characteristics have employed a release layer on the surface of the mold. The release layer is typically hydrophobic and/or has low surface energy. The release layer adheres to the mold. Providing the release layer improves release characteristics. By doing so, this minimizes (or eliminates) distortions in the pattern recorded into the polymeric material that are attributable to mold separation. This type of release layer is referred to in the present Application as an a priori release layer, i.e., a release layer that is solidified to the mold. 
         [0006]    For instance, in Bender et al., “Multiple Imprinting in UV-based Nanoimprint Lithography: Related Material Issues,” Microeletronic Engineering 61-62 (2002), pp. 407-413, Bender et al. employ a mold having an a priori release layer in conjunction with a fluorine-treated UV curable material. A UV curable layer is applied to a substrate by spin-coating a 200 cPs DV curable fluid to form a DV curable layer. The UV curable layer is enriched with fluorine groups for enhancing the release properties (i.e., a fluorine release agent). 
         [0007]    In some instances, a priori release layer can also be a characteristic of the materials making up the mold itself, such as when the mold is made of silicone and has been designed to release layers upon its use. Such release of the layers of the mold is disadvantageous for multiple release. First, such materials would be much softer than quartz, which is a typical material used for molds in nano-imprint lithography. Due to this softness, they would be easily distorted, which is not a good feature for molds used in nano-imprint lithography. Furthermore, materials such as silicone or other like organic polymers, will swell due to contact with the imprinting materials. Such swelling of the mold materials is likewise not conducive to the precision needed for nano-imprint lithography. And because of the above, the use of such materials substantially limits the useful life of the mold and will require constant monitoring and replacement of the mold, which will increase the downtime of the process. 
         [0008]    A need exists, therefore, to improve the preferential release and adhesion properties of a mold employed in imprint lithography processes. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention provides a method and composition for providing preferential adhesion and release of adjacent surfaces, that features solidifying a composition to form a solidified layer having first and second opposed sides, with the first side facing a first surface and being adhered thereto with a first adhesive forces and the second side facing the second surface and being adhered thereto with a second adhesive force, with the first and second adhesive forces establishing a predetermined preferential adhesion ratio. Generally, the first surface is covalently bonded to the first side and adhesion between the second side and the second surface occurs through Van der Waal forces. It has been found that the use of a fluorine group for enhancing the release properties (as a priori fluorinated release layer or a fluorinated release agent) is no longer needed for such method and composition. 
         [0010]    To that end, in one embodiment, the composition can be formed from an isobornyl acrylate component; an aliphatic urethane acrylate component; a 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate component; and a 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one component. The first surface can be formed by polymerizing a compound formed from a multi-functional component that contains functional groups facilitating the formation of covalent bonds with the above mentioned polymerizable composition during an imprinting process, a cross-linking agent component, a catalyst component, and a solvent component. The second surface is usually a patterned or smoothed portion of a quartz mold. The and other embodiments are described below. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a simplified plan view of a lithographic system in accordance with the prior art; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a simplified elevation view of a template and imprinting material disposed on a substrate in accordance with the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a simplified elevation view of the template and substrate, shown in  FIG. 2 , with the imprinting material being shown as patterned and solidified upon the layer; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the template being removed from imprinting material in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the template being removed from contacting imprinting material in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a plan view showing the chemical structure of a component of a composition that may be employed to form the primer layer shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  5 , in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a mold  36 , in accordance with the present invention, may be employed in system  10 , and may define a surface having a substantially smooth or planar profile (not shown). Alternatively, mold  36  may include features defined by a plurality of spaced-apart recessions  38  and protrusions  40 . The plurality of features defines an original pattern that forms the basis of a pattern to be formed on a substrate  42 . Substrate  42  may comprise a bare wafer or a wafer with one or more layers disposed thereon, one of which is shown as primer layer  45 . To that end, reduced is a distance “d” between mold  36  and substrate  42 . In this manner, the features on mold  36  may be imprinted into a conformable region of substrate  42 , such as an imprinting material disposed on a portion of surface  44  that presents a substantially planar profile. It should be understood that the imprinting material may be deposited using any known technique, e.g., spin-coating, dip coating and the like. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the imprinting material can be deposited as a plurality of spaced-apart discrete droplets  46  on substrate  42 . Imprinting material is formed from a composition that may be selectively polymerized and cross-linked to record the original pattern therein, defining a recorded pattern. 
         [0018]    Specifically, the pattern recorded in the imprinting material can be produced, in part, by interaction with mold  36 , e.g., electrical interaction, magnetic interaction, thermal interaction, mechanical interaction or the like. Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , in the present example, mold  36  can come into mechanical contact with the imprinting material, spreading droplets  36 , so as to generate a contiguous formation  50  of the imprinting material over surface  44 . In one embodiment, distance “d” is reduced to allow sub-portions  52  of imprinting material to ingress into and fill recessions  38 . To facilitate filling of recessions  38 , before contact between mold  36  and droplets  46 , the atmosphere between mold  36  and droplets  46  is saturated with helium or is completely evacuated or is a partially evacuated atmosphere of helium. 
         [0019]    The imprinting material can be provided with the requisite properties to completely fill recessions  36  while covering surface  44  with a contiguous formation of the imprinting material. As shown in  FIG. 3 , in an embodiment of the invention, sub-portions  54  of imprinting material in superimposition with protrusions  40  remain after the desired, usually minimum, distance “d” has been reached. This action provides formation  50  with sub-portions  52  having a thickness t 1 , and sub-portions  54 , having a thickness t 2 . Thicknesses “t 1 ” and “t 2 ” may be any thickness desired, dependent upon the application. Thereafter, formation  50  can be solidified by exposing the same to the appropriate curing agent, (e.g., actinic energy, such as broadband ultra violet energy, thermal energy or the like) depending upon the imprinting material. This can cause the imprinting material to polymerize and cross-link. The entire process may occur at ambient temperatures and pressures, or in an environmentally-controlled chamber with desired temperatures and pressures. In this manner, formation  50  is solidified to provide side  56  thereof with a shape conforming to a shape of a surface  58  of mold  36 . 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the characteristics of the imprinting material are utilized to efficiently pattern substrate  42  in light of the novel patterning process employed. For example, the imprinting material can have certain characteristics to facilitate rapid and even filling of the features of mold  36  so that all thicknesses t 1  are substantially uniform and all thicknesses t 2  are substantially uniform. To that end, the viscosity of the imprinting material can be established, based upon the deposition process employed, to achieve the aforementioned characteristics. As mentioned above, the imprinting material may be deposited on substrate  42  employing various techniques. In embodiments wherein the imprinting material is deposited as a plurality of discrete and spaced-apart droplets  46 , it can be desirable that a composition from which the imprinting material is formed have relatively low viscosity, e.g., in a range of 0.5 to 30 centipoises (cPs). Considering that the imprinting material can be spread and patterned concurrently, with the pattern being subsequently solidified into formation  50  by exposure to radiation, it is generally desired to have the composition wet surface of substrate  42  and/or mold  36  and to avoid subsequent pit or hole formation after polymerization. In embodiments wherein the imprinting material is deposited employing spin-coating techniques, it can be desired to use higher viscosity materials, e.g., having a viscosity greater than 10 cPs and typically, several hundred to several thousand cPs, with the viscosity measurement being determined in the absence of a solvent. 
         [0021]    In addition to the aforementioned characteristics (referred to as liquid phase characteristics), generally, the composition provides the imprinting material with certain solidified phase characteristics. For example, after solidification of formation  50 , the preferential adhesion and release characteristics are generally determined by the imprinting material. The composition from which the imprinting material is fabricated to provide formation  50  can provide preferential adhesion to substrate  42  and preferential release of mold  36 . In this fashion, the probability of distortions in the recorded pattern that result from the separation of mold  36  is reduced. Furthermore, as distortions are due to, inter alia, tearing, stretching or other structural degradation of formation  50 , the increase in the strength in formation  50  likewise generally reduces such distortion. 
         [0022]    As for preferential adhesion, with reference to  FIG. 4 , for example, after deposition of the imprinting material upon separation of mold  36 , formation  50  is subjected to a separation force F S . Separation force F S  is attributable to a pulling force F p  on mold  36  and adhering forces F A2 , e.g., Van der Waals forces, between formation  50  and mold  36 . Pulling force F p  is used to break the vacuum seal. It is desired that F A2  typically have a magnitude that is less than the magnitude of an adhering force F A1  between formation  50  and substrate  42 . Should adhering force, F A2 , approach the magnitude of the adhering force F A1 , distortion and/or de-lamination of formation  50  from substrate  42  may occur. The ratio of adhering force F A1  to separation force F A2  (referred as the force ratio, F R ) can be at least about 2:1 and, more advantageously, at least about 5:1. In this manner, efficient decoupling of mold  36  from formation  50  may be performed without unduly distorting formation  50 . 
         [0023]    As for the strength of the formation  50 , should the formation  50  not have sufficient tensile strength (including locally), the magnitude of F A2  may cause distortion even at high ratios of preferential adhesion. The application of F A2  will cause stress on the weak points of formation  50 . Thus, for example, if the tensile strength of formation  50  is less than the force needed to decouple formation  50  from mold  36 , than the application of F A2  will likely result in a tear of formation  50  instead of separating the formation  50  from mold  36 . Moreover, if the tensile strength of formation  50  is not significantly high enough above F A2  such that locally formation  50  can withstand the application of F A2 , then tearing or other distortion can result. Thus, the tensile strength of formation  50  must be above the force need to separate formation  50  from mold  36  such that distortion does not occur during such separation. 
         [0024]    The constituent components of the composition that form the imprinting material to provide each of the aforementioned characteristics may differ. This results from substrate  42  being formed from a number of different materials, i.e. providing differing magnitudes of adhering forces F A As a result, the chemical composition of surface  44  varies dependent upon the material from which substrate  42  is formed. For example, substrate  42  may be formed from silicon, plastics, gallium arsenide, mercury telluride, and composites thereof. Substrate  42  may include one or more layers shown as primer layer  45 , e.g., dielectric layer, metal layer, semiconductor layer, planarization layer and the like, upon which formation  50  is generated. Primer layer  45  would be deposited upon a wafer  47  employing any suitable technique, such as chemical vapor deposition, spin-coating and the like. Additionally, primer layer  45  may be formed from any suitable material, such as silicon, germanium and the like. Additionally, mold  36  may be formed from several materials, e.g., fused-silica, quartz, indium tin oxide diamond-like carbon, MoSi, sol-gels and the like. 
         [0025]    A feature of the present invention is that with a sufficient force ratio (F R ) and with sufficient tensile strength of the composition as specified above, the composition need not include any fluorine groups that the art has generally added for enhancing the release properties. 
         [0026]    In one embodiment, suitable imprinting materials from which to form formation  50  can comprise the following: (a) isobornyl acrylate; (b) aliphatic urethane acrylate; (c) 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate; and (d) 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one. 
         [0027]    In this embodiment, the acrylate component of the imprinting material, isobornyl acrylate (IBOA), has the following structure: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    and can comprise approximately between about 20% and about 80% weight percent of the overall imprinting material. As a result, the mechanical properties of formation  50  are primarily attributable to the IBOA. An exemplary source for IBOA is Sartomer Company, Inc. of Exton, Pa., available under the product designation SR 506. 
         [0028]    In this embodiment, the aliphatic urethane acrylate component can comprise between about 0% and about 50% weight percent of the overall imprinting material. The aliphatic urethane acrylate component is available from Rahn USA Corp., Aurora, Ill., under the designation Genomer 1122 and has the following structure: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0029]    In this embodiment, the 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate component is available from UCB Chemicals, Smyna, Ga., under the designation HDODA and has the following structure: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
       The 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate component can comprise between about 10% and about 50% weight percent of the overall imprinting material. 
       [0030]    Alternatively, other acrylate components (such as n-hexyl acrylate and ethelene glycol diacrylate) can be utilized. 
         [0031]    In this embodiment, the initiator component, 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one is available from Ciba Specialty Chemicals of Tarrytown, N.Y., under the trade name DAROCUR® 1173, and has the following structure: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    The initiator component can comprise about 3% weight percent of the overall imprinting material by weight, and generally may be present in a range of about 1% to 5% by percent weight of the overall imprinting material. The initiator is responsive to a broad band of ultra-violet radiation generated by a medium-pressure mercury lamp. In this manner, the initiator facilitates cross-linking and polymerization of the components of the imprinting material. The components of the imprinting material provide the same with a viscosity of approximately 11 cPs, which makes the same suitable for both drop-dispense and spin-coating techniques. 
         [0032]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , in the presence of primer layer  45 , a more complex situation exists due to the presence of two interfaces  66  and  68 . At a first interface  66 , a first adhering force F 1  is present between primer layer  45  and formation  50 . At a second interface  68 , a second adhering force, F 2 , is present between primer layer  45  and wafer  47 . It is desired that the mold adhesion force F A2  have a magnitude that is less than either adhering forces F 1  and F 2 . (The lesser of F 1  and F 2  is F A1 , as this is the adherence force to which the formation  50  is adhered to substrate  42 ). Otherwise, de-lamination of formation  50  from primer layer  45 , or de-lamination of primer layer  45  from wafer  47  or both may occur. 
         [0033]    The present invention reduces, if not avoids, the de-lamination problem mentioned above by forming formation  50  and primer layer  45  from compatible materials that increases the probability that first F 1  and second F 2  adhering forces of the first and second interface, respectively, are greater than the mold adhesion force F A2 , while providing the desired force ratio, F R , between F A1  and F A2 , such that F R  is at least about than 2:1 and, more advantageously, at least about 5:1. In the present embodiment, primer layer  45  is formed from a composition that forms strong bonds at interface  66 , i.e., between primer layer  45  and formation  50 , as well as, i.e., between interface  66 , primer layer  45  and wafer  47 . In the present example, adhesion between primer layer  45  and formation  50  at first interface  66  is the result of covalent bonding, i.e., covalent bonds between the composition from which primer layer  45  is formed and the composition from which formation  50  is formed are present. Adhesion between primer layer  45  and wafer  47  may be achieved through any one of various mechanisms. These mechanisms may include covalent bonds formed between the composition from which primer layer  45  is formed and the material from which wafer  47  is formed. Alternatively, or in addition to, the covalent bonds, ionic bonds may be formed between the composition from which primer layer  45  is formed and the material from which wafer  47  is formed. Alternatively, or in addition to, the covalent bonds, and/or the ionic bonds or both, adhesion between the composition from which primer layer  45  is formed and the material from which wafer  47  is formed may be achieved vis-a-vis Van der Waals forces. 
         [0034]    This is achieved by forming primer layer  45  from a composition that includes a multi-functional reactive compound, i.e., a compound that contained two or more functional groups generally represented as follows: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    In which R, R′, R″ and R′″ are linking groups and x, y, z are averaged repeating numbers of the groups associated therewith. These repeating units can be randomly distributed. The groups X and X′ denote functional groups, and, typically, the functional group X differs from functional group X′. One of the functional groups X and X′, for example X′, is selected to achieve cross-reaction with the material from which substrate  42  is formed to adhere thereto by forming a covalent bond therewith, ionic bond therewith and/or Van der Waals forces. 
         [0035]    One of the remaining functional groups X and X′, for example X, is selected to achieve cross-reaction with the material from which formation  50  is formed to form a covalent bond therebetween. The functionality of the X group is established so the cross-reaction occurs during polymerization of formation  50 . As a result, the selection of functional group X depends upon the characteristics of the material from which formation  50  is formed. It is generally desired that functional group X reacts with the functional groups of the composition from which formation  50  is formed. For example, were formation  50  formed from acrylate monomers, X may be comprised of acrylic, vinyl ether, and or methacrylic functional groups, and/or functional groups that can copolymerize with acrylic groups in formation  50 . As a result, X functional groups cross-react in response to ultraviolet actinic energy. 
         [0036]    Functional groups X′ may also participate in the cross-linking and polymerization reactions of primer layer  45 . Typically, X′ functional groups facilitate polymerization and cross-linking in response to an actinic energy that differs from the actinic energy in response to which X functional groups cross-react. The X′ functional groups in the present example facilitate cross-linking of molecules in primer layer  45  in response to exposure to thermal energy. Typically, functional groups X′ are selected to facilitate cross-reaction with substrate  42  through three mechanisms: 1) direct reaction with material from which substrate  42  is formed; 2) reaction with cross-linker molecules with a linking functional group of the cross-linker reacting with substrate  42 ; and 3) polymerization of and cross-linking of primer layer  45  so that chains of molecules of sufficient length may be developed to connected between formation  50  and substrate  42 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 5 and 6 , an embodiment of an exemplary multi-functional reactive compound that may be employed to form primer layer  45  in the presence of formation  50  being formed from a imprinting materials (such as specified above) can comprise the following: (a) a multi-functional component; (b) a cross-linking agent; (c) a catalyst; and (d) a solvent. 
         [0038]    In this embodiment of the primer, the multi-functional component is an available from Schenectady International, Inc. in Schenectady, N.Y., under the product designation IsoRad 501 and can have either of the following structures: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    where x and y are integers indicating repeating units that are randomly distributed. The X′ functional group  82  provides carboxylic functionality. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the X functional group  84  provides acrylate functionality. Functional groups  82  and  84  are coupled to opposing ends of a backbone component  86 . IsoRad® can comprises approximately 77%, weight percent of the primer composition (without solvent). The multi-functional component can be utilized in the primer in a range between about 20% and about 95% (weight percent). 
         [0039]    In this embodiment of the primer, both the cross-linking agent and catalyst are available from Cytec Industries, Inc. of West Patterson, N.J. The cross-linking agent is sold under the product name Cymel 303ULF. One of the main components of Cymel 303ULF is hexamethoxymethyl-melamine (HMMM). The methoxyl functional groups of HMMM generally can participate in many condensation reactions. The primer can includes about 22 weight percent of Cymel 303ULF and about 1 weight percent of Cycat 4040 (without solvent). The cross-linking agent can be utilized in the primer in a range between about 5% and about 50% (weight percent) and the catalyst can be utilized in the primer in a range between about 0.1% and about 5% (weight percent). The multi-functional component, cross-linking agent, and the catalyst (such as IsoRad 501, Cymel 303ULF, and Cycat) are combined. The combination is then introduced into the solvent, such as approximately 1900 grams of PM Acetate. PM Acetate is a product name of a solvent consisting of 2-(1 Methoxy)propyl acetate sold by Eastman Chemical Company of Kingsport, Tenn. The ratio of the solvent to the combination of the multi-functional component, cross-linking agent, and the catalyst (without solvent) can be between about 1.5:1 and about 10,000:1. Typically, at lower ratios, solvent/combination mixtures will be thicker (i.e. have a higher viscosity) than at higher ratios of solvent/combination mixtures. 
         [0040]    The following examples are provided to more fully illustrate some of the embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated by those of skill in the art that the techniques disclosed in the examples which follow represent techniques discovered by the inventor to function well in the practice of the invention, and thus can be considered to constitute exemplary modes for its practice. However, those of skill in the art should, in light of the present disclosure, appreciate that many changes can be made in the specific embodiments that are disclosed and still obtain a like or similar result without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 
       EXAMPLE 1 
       [0041]    In this Example 1, the following five compositions (A-E) were made: 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
             
               
             
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Components 
                 part by weight 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Composition A 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 isobornyl acrylate 
                 56 
               
               
                   
                 aliphatic urethane acrylate 
                 21 
               
               
                   
                 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one 
                 3 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Composition B 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 isobornyl acrylate 
                 56 
               
               
                   
                 aliphatic urethane acrylate 
                 21 
               
               
                   
                 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 Zonyl FSO-100 
                 0.5 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Composition C 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 isobornyl acrylate 
                 55 
               
               
                   
                 aliphatic urethane acrylate 
                 21 
               
               
                   
                 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate 
                 20 
               
               
                   
                 1H,1H-perfluoro-n-decyl acrylate 
                 1 
               
               
                   
                 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 Zonyl FSO-100 
                 0.5 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Composition D 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 isobornyl acrylate 
                 47 
               
               
                   
                 n-hexyl acrylate 
                 25 
               
               
                   
                 ethylene glycol diacrylate 
                 25 
               
               
                   
                 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one 
                 3 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Composition E 
               
             
          
           
               
                   
                 isobornyl acrylate 
                 47 
               
               
                   
                 n-hexyl acrylate 
                 25 
               
               
                   
                 ethylene glycol diacrylate 
                 25 
               
               
                   
                 2-hydroxy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one 
                 3 
               
               
                   
                 Masurf FS-2000 
                 0.5 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0042]    Compositions B, C, and E employ fluorinated surfactants, while Compositions A and D do not. Such fluorinated surfactants were added (as release agents) to these compositions to reduce the release force F A2 . Fluorinated surfactants that can be used to reduce such release force F A2  can include those from a group of nonionic fluorinated surfactant components having the following general formula: 
         [0000]      F(CF 2 CF 2 ) X CH 2 CH 2 O(RO) Y R′ 
         [0000]    where (RO) Y  is a poly(oxyalkylene) group, that includes groups having two to four carbon atoms such as —CH2CH2-, —CH2CH2CH2-, —CH(CH3)CH2-, or —CH(CH3)CH(CH3)-, and R′ is a terminal group of H or C1 to C4 alkyl, preferably H or methyl and X and Y are integers. 
         [0043]    Other such examples of nonionic fluorinated surfactant components can have the following general formula: 
         [0000]    
       
                 
         
             
             
         
       
     
         [0000]    where R and R′ can be either H or methyl; R and R′ can be identical or differ. R″ is a linking group that may be omitted or a sulfonyl group such as —SO2N(R′″″)—, with R′″″ being C1 to C6 alkyl and typically C1 to C4 alkyl. The component (OR′″) Z  is a poly(oxyalkylene) group, typically including groups having 2 to 4 carbon atoms such as —CH2CH2-, —CH2CH2CH2-, —CH(CH3)CH2-, or —CH(CH3)CH(CH3)-R′″″ is a terminal group of methyl, H or C1 to C4 alkyl and typically H or methyl. The ratio of x to y is in a range of 1:2 to 3:1 and more preferably in a range of 1:1 to 2:1. 
         [0044]    It should be understood that the oxyalkylene groups in the poly(oxyalkylene) group may be the same, as in poly(oxyethylene), or two or more of differing oxyalkylene units may be irregularly distributed in the poly(oxyalkylene) group. More specifically, the poly(oxyalkylene) group may be made up of straight or branched chain oxypropylene units alone or oxyethylene units alone, or straight or branched oxypropylene units and oxyethylene units may be present in alternate blocks. In the case of alternate blocks of oxyethylene and oxypropylene, the ratio the oxyethylene to oxypropylene is in a range of 2.0-0.5 to 1. Also, unattached blocks of poly(oxyalkylene) may be present in the polymer matrix. Chain transfer agents such as octyl mercaptan may be also present. 
         [0045]    Suitable commercially available examples of non-ionic surfactant components included are sold by Dupont under product names ZONYL® FSO-100; sold by 3M Company under the product names FC-4432, FC-4430; sold by Mason Chemical Company of Arlington Heights, Ill. under the product names MASURF FS-2000; sold by Ciba-Geigy Corp under the product name Lodyne S-222N; and sold by Dainippon Ink &amp; Chemical under the product name MegaFace R-08. As reflected above, Zonyl FSO-100 was utilized in Compositions B and C, and Masurf FS-2000 was utilized in Composition E. 
         [0046]    While Applicants are unaware of any release agents that have been utilized in nano-imprint lithography that do not contain fluorine (i.e., non-fluorinated release agents), in concept, non-fluorinated release agents, such as siloxanes, are theoretical release agents that may be substitutable for fluorinated release agents. As reflected in the Examples 2-7 below, good results are obtainable without in the absence of any release agents (whether fluorinated or not). 
       EXAMPLES 2-7 
       [0047]    In Examples 2-7, the Compositions A-E were tested to determine imprinting performance under different conditions. 
         [0048]    To determine the preferential release and adhesion characteristics, each of Compositions A-E was employed to form a imprinting material layer between two glass slides. Specifically, a formation was deposited upon primer layer  45  for a relevant composition (one of Compositions A-E) that both formation  50  and primer layer  45  were solidified between two glass slides (not shown). Each glass slide was approximately 1 mm thick, 75×25 mm in the lateral dimension. 
         [0049]    Before deposition of imprinting material layer the glass slides were cleaned. Specifically each glass slide was exposed to Piranha solution (H 2 SO 4 : H 2 O 2 =2.5:1 by volume). The glass slides were subsequently rinsed with de-ionized water, sprayed with isopropyl alcohol, and exposed to a stream of fluid for drying, e.g., a stream of nitrogen gas. Thereafter, the glass slides were baked at 120° C. (Celsius) for 2 hours. 
         [0050]    The imprinting material layer formed was deposited onto one or more of the two glass slides employing drop-dispense techniques. Specifically, a plurality of droplets of the material from which imprinting material layer is formed (i.e., the relevant Composition A-E) was dropped onto one or more of the two glass slides, which was subsequently sandwiched therebetween. Typically, a longitudinal axis of one of the two glass slides extended orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the remaining glass slide. The imprinting material layer filled the space the glass slides then solidified, i.e., polymerized, and cross-linked by exposing the two glass slides to actinic energy, such as broad band ultraviolet wavelengths, using a medium pressure mercury UV lamp for 40 seconds at 20 mW/cm 2  intensity. 
         [0051]    To measure the strength of the adhesion, a four-point bending fixture was adopted for the adhesion test, similar to that described in “Measurement of Adhesive Force Between Mold and Photocurable Resin in Imprint Technology” Japanese Journal of Applied Physics, Vol. 41 (2002) pp. 4194-4197. The maximum force/load was taken as the adhesion value. The beam distance of the top and bottom two points is 60 mm. The load was applied at the speed of 0.5 mm per minute. 
         [0052]    As reflected by this process, none of these Examples 2-7 utilized a priori fluorinated treatment layer for enhancing release characteristics. 
         [0053]    For Example 2, Composition A was utilized along with a primer that was made as described above utilizing 77 grams of IsoRad 501, 22 grams of Cymel 303ULF, 1 gram Cycat, and 1900 grams PM Acetate (the “IsoRad Primer”). 
         [0054]    For Example 3, Composition A was utilized along with a primer known as DUV30J. DUV30J is a BARC materials made from Brewer Science, Rolla, Mo. Unlike the IsoRad Primer, DUV30J does not form covalent bonds with imprinting material. As shown below, the use of DUV30J was used as a layer  45  material in this and another example to compare its performance against that of the IsoRad Primer. 
         [0055]    For Example 4, Composition B was utilized along with the IsoRad Primer. 
         [0056]    For Example 5, Composition C was utilized along with the IsoRad Primer. 
         [0057]    For Example 6, Composition D was utilized along with the IsoRad Primer. 
         [0058]    For Example 7, Composition E was utilized along with DUV30J. 
         [0059]    The imprinting results of Examples 2-7 are provided in Table 1 below. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
                 TABLE 1 
               
               
                   
                   
               
               
                   
                 Ex. 2 
                 Ex. 3 
                 Ex. 4 
                 Ex. 5 
                 Ex. 6 
                 Ex. 7 
               
               
                   
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 Composition 
                 A 
                 A 
                 B 
                 C 
                 D 
                 E 
               
               
                 Tensile strength of 
                 30.0 
                 30.0 
                 30.0 
                 30.0 
                 24.7 
                 24.7 
               
               
                 comp (MPa) 
               
               
                 Priori fluorinated 
                 No 
                 No 
                 No 
                 No 
                 No 
                 No 
               
               
                 release layer 
               
               
                 Fluorinated release 
                 No 
                 No 
                 Yes 
                 Yes 
                 No 
                 Yes 
               
               
                 agent added into 
               
               
                 imprinting comp 
               
               
                 Layer 45 material 
                 IsoRad 
                 DUV30J 
                 IsoRad 
                 IsoRad 
                 IsoRad 
                 DUV30J 
               
               
                   
                 Primer 
                   
                 Primer 
                 Primer 
                 Primer 
               
               
                 F A1  over a 25 × 25 mm 
                 &gt;20 
                 4.0 
                 &gt;20 
                 &gt;20 
                 &gt;20 
                 4.0 
               
               
                 area (lb) 
               
               
                 F A2  over a 25 × 25 mm 
                 2.4 
                 2.4 
                 0.8 
                 0.8 
                 3.2 
                 0.9 
               
               
                 area (lb) 
               
               
                 Adhesion ratio, F R   
                 &gt;8 
                 1.7 
                 &gt;25 
                 &gt;25 
                 &gt;6 
                 4.4 
               
               
                 (F A1 /F A2 ) 
               
               
                 Tensile Strength to 
                 1750 
                 1750 
                 5270 
                 5270 
                 1080 
                 3850 
               
               
                 F A2  ratio 
               
               
                 F R  * Tensile 
                 &gt;14,000 
                 2,975 
                 &gt;131,750 
                 &gt;131,750 
                 &gt;6,480 
                 16,940 
               
               
                 Strength to F A2  ratio 
               
               
                 Imprinting Result 
                 No 
                 Yes 
                 No 
                 No 
                 Yes 
                 No 
               
               
                 (Distortion) 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0060]    In both Examples 2 and 3, Composition A was utilized, albeit with different primers (namely the IsoRad Primer and DUV30J, respectively). A comparison of Examples 2 and 3 reflects the benefits of increasing the adhesion ratio. In Example 3, the adhesion ratio was only 1.7, which resulted in distorted features, while Example 2 with its adhesion ratio greater than 8, did not. Such adhesion ratio should be at least about 2:1 and, more advantageously, at least about 5:1. 
         [0061]    In Examples 2 and 6, Compositions A and D were utilized, respectively, along with the IsoRad Primer. A comparison of Examples 2 and 6 reveals that having a good adhesion ratio was not necessarily sufficient to achieve good imprinting results. In Example 6, while the adhesion ratio exceeded 5:1, the imprinted features were still distorted. 
         [0062]    In Examples 2 and 6, Compositions A and D were utilized with the IsoRad Primer. In Example 7, Composition E was utilized with DUV30J. Composition D and E are the same compositions, except that 0.5 parts per weight of Masurf FS-2000 was added in Composition E. In a comparison between Examples 6 and 7, it is seen that in both cases the adhesion ratio was high. However, because the monomer to template adhesion force F A2  was significantly lower in Example 7, no distortion resulted in this example. A comparison of Example 2 and 6 shows the increase in tensile strength of the imprinting material can effect whether there is or is not distortion. The solidified material in Example 2 is stronger in tensile strength than the one in Example 6. In addition, there are benefits for having low enough absolute adhesion of solidified imprinting material to template to provide tolerable local stress on imprinted feature for the particular mechanical strength of the imprinting material involved. In Example 2, F A2  is significantly lower than the one in Example 6. Such comparisons reflect that the relationship between the tensile strength of the solidified composition and the monomer to template adhesion force F A2 . 
         [0063]    In Examples 2, 4, and 5, Compositions A, B, and C were utilized along with the IsoRad Primer 5. In Examples 4 and 5, the compositions contained a fluorinated release agent. Example 2 show it is possible to achieve good imprinting results without priori fluorinated release layer and without adding any fluorinated release agent either. Without any release enhancement by fluorinated compound/layer, the F A2  (monomer to template adhesion) will increase naturally. Thus, an increase in the mechanical strength of the solidified imprinting material can be utilized in order to be able to tolerate the anticipated increased local stress on the imprinted features. Such ratio of the tensile strength of the imprinting material to F A2  (monomer to template adhesion) should be at least about 1,250:1 and, more advantageously, at least about 1,750:1. However, a comparison of Examples 2 and 3 reveals that having a good tensile strength to F A2  ratio was not necessarily sufficient to achieve good imprinting results. In Example 3, while this ratio was around 1750:1 (and the same as in Example 2), the imprinted features were still distorted. 
         [0064]    These examples reflect that good imprinting results can be achieved through the combination of (a) a high adhesion ratio, (b) strong mechanical properties reflected in high tensile strength, and (c) low enough F A2  to provide tolerable local stress on imprinted feature for the particular mechanical strength of the imprinting material involved. Thus, Example 2 is an imprinting success, even in the absence any prior fluorinated release layer and without adding any fluorinated release agent. As such, the ratio of the (i) the product of the adhesion ratio and the tensile strength of the imprinting material to (ii) the monomer to template adhesion (F A2 ) should be at least about 7,500:1, and, more advantageously, at least about 10,000:1, and even more advantageously, at least about 14,000:1. 
         [0065]    The embodiments of the present invention described above are exemplary. Many changes and modifications may be made to the disclosure recited above while remaining within the scope of the invention. The scope of the invention should not, therefore, be limited by the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.