Patent Publication Number: US-2006017876-A1

Title: Displays and method for fabricating displays

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to displays and methods for fabricating such displays, which methods include imprint lithography techniques.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Recent developments in information communication have increased demand for various types of display devices. In response to this demand, various flat panel displays such as, for example and without limitation, liquid crystal displays or liquid crystal display devices (LCDs), plasma display panels (PDPs), electro luminescent displays (ELDs), and vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs) have been developed. As used herein, LCDs include both direct viewing LCDs and projection type LCDs. LCDs have been used widely as mobile displays such as, for example and without limitation, displays for telephones and notebook computers because of, among other things, their small size, light weight, thin profile, and low power consumption. In addition to their use as mobile displays, LCDs have been developed as general displays as a replacement for Cathode Ray Tubes (CRTs) in computer monitors and televisions.  
      A typical LCD comprises: (a) an LCD panel that includes a liquid crystal layer for displaying a picture (typically the LCD panel is formed from first and second substrates, for example, glass substrates, that are bonded together—while being separated by a predetermined interval—with a liquid crystal interposed between the two substrates); (b) a light source; (c) electrodes; and (d) circuit components for applying driving voltages to the liquid crystal panel (for example, a driver circuit and a power supply circuit). Such a typical LCD provides a display by utilizing variations in polarization states of a light ray transmitted through the liquid crystal layer. The polarization state of the light ray is changed by orientation directions of liquid crystal molecules, which orientation directions, in turn, are changeable by applying a voltage to the liquid crystal layer. Portions of the driver circuit and power supply circuit may either form integral parts of the LCD panel or be mounted on the LCD panel.  
       FIG. 1  shows a cross section of a portion of a liquid crystal panel that has been fabricated in accordance with the prior art. As shown in  FIG. 1 , LCD  1000  includes substrate  701 , substrate  702 , liquid crystal layer  703  formed between substrates  701  and  702 , and spacer  720  that maintains a uniform interval between substrates  701  and  702 . Substrate  701  is a substrate that carries thin film transistor (TFT) switching devices that selectively turn data signals on/off in accordance with gate voltages. To that end, substrate  701  also carries a plurality of gate lines arranged in a first direction at fixed intervals, a plurality of data lines arranged in a second direction perpendicular to the gate lines at fixed intervals, and a plurality of pixel electrodes in respective pixel regions defined by the gate lines and the data lines arranged in a matrix. As is well known, a TFT is switchable in response to signals on the gate lines for transmission of a signal on the data line to the pixel electrodes. As shown in  FIG. 1 , a gate line includes gate electrode  711  for a TFT and gate insulating layer  712  (for example, gate insulating layer  712  is a silicon nitride (SiN x ) layer) disposed over substrate  701  and gate electrode  711 . As further shown in  FIG. 1 , semiconductor layer  713  is disposed on gate insulating layer  712  and over gate electrode  711 , and data line  714  crosses the gate line. As further shown in  FIG. 1 , source electrode  714   a  and drain electrode  714   b  are disposed on semiconductor layer  713 , and passivation layer  715  is formed over substrate  701  (for example, passivation layer  715  is a silicon nitride (SiN x ) layer), including over source electrode  714   a  and drain electrode  714   b.  Pixel electrode  708  (for example, pixel electrode  708  is formed from indium tin oxide (ITO)) that connects to drain electrode  714   b  is formed on passivation layer  715 . As further shown in  FIG. 1 , alignment layer  704   a  extends over the entire surface of substrate  701 , including pixel electrode  708 .  
      As further shown in  FIG. 1 , substrate  702  supports a color filter layer for expressing colors. As is well known, substrate  702  has a black matrix layer for shielding light from areas excluding the pixel regions, a color filter layer (R, G, B), and a common electrode for implementing a picture. In particular, the following are disposed on substrate  702 : black matrix  716  that prevents light leakage, color filter layer  717  (RGB) which is disposed between neighboring areas of black matrix  716 , and passivation layer  718  which is disposed over the entire surface of substrate  702 . Passivation layer  718  protects color filter layer  717 . As further shown in  FIG. 1 , common electrode  719  (for example, common electrode  719  is formed from ITO) is formed on passivation layer  718 . As further shown in  FIG. 1 , alignment layer  704   b  extends over the entire surface of substrate  702 .  
      As is well known, substrates  701  and  702  have a gap between them which is maintained by a number of spacers, for example, spacer  720  shown in  FIG. 1 , that maintain a uniform distance between substrates  701  and  702  when they are placed together and are bonded by a sealant. The edges of substrates  701  and  702  are sealed with an epoxy to form a seal, and the seal typically has a liquid crystal injection inlet (for example, a gap in one corner) through which the liquid crystal is injected (in a vacuum) after the two substrates are bonded and sealed. Afterwards, the space between the bonded two substrates of each LCD panel is evacuated, and the liquid crystal injection inlet is dipped in a liquid crystal bath so that the liquid crystal is injected into the space by capillary action. Once the liquid crystal is injected into the space between the two substrates, the liquid crystal injection inlet is sealed.  
      Another method for fabricating an LCD entails using a liquid crystal dropping method rather than the liquid crystal injection method described above. In accordance with such an alternative method, a sealant (for example, a UV sealant) is coated on a first substrate having a TFT array formed thereon to a thickness of approximately 30 μm, and liquid crystal is dropped on the substrate interior of the sealant, which interior includes the TFT array area (as such, a liquid crystal injection inlet is not provided in the sealant). The substrate is typically mounted on a table in a vacuum chamber, and a second substrate, having a color filter array formed thereon, is held in the vacuum chamber over the first substrate. The second substrate is moved downward in a vertical direction, the substrates are aligned, and they are moved toward each other until the second substrate comes into contact with, and bonds with, the first substrate through the sealant (as is well known, further alignment steps may be interposed). Next, the sealant is hardened (for example, UV rays are directed to the sealant or the temperature is raised to set it). Next, the bonded substrates may be cut into individual panels, and each panel may be polished and inspected.  
      In a variant of the above-described alternative, liquid crystal is dropped or applied on the first substrate, and a sealant is coated on the second glass substrate. Next, the two substrates are brought together for bonding and spreading the liquid crystal between the substrates uniformly. Next, the sealant is set. Next, the bonded substrates may be cut into individual panels, and each panel may be polished and inspected. Although it has been described that the liquid crystal is dispensed on a substrate having a TFT array, and the sealant is coated on a substrate having a color filter array, the sealant may be applied to both substrates, or the liquid crystal and the sealant may be applied on either of the substrates.  
      One problem with such prior art methods relates to the sealing process because the sealant is unconstrained and provides process variability which results in quality issues and poor manufacturing yields.  
      An LCD has numerous functional requirements, including light transmission characteristics, operational response time, viewing angle, and contrast. Many of those requirements are impacted by alignment characteristics of liquid crystal molecules in the LCD. Indeed, uniformly aligned liquid crystal molecules are important to the electro-optical characteristics of an LCD, and the alignment characteristics of the LCD are provided by an alignment layer. As is well known, alignment films are typically formed in the following manner. First, an organic polymer film, for example, a polyimide film, is deposited over a substrate on which electrodes and circuit components are provided. Next, the surface of the organic polymer film is mechanically rubbed with a cloth in a predetermined direction, thereby obtaining an alignment film having the function of aligning the liquid crystal molecules in the predetermined direction. While the rubbing technique is a simple process, it has problems. For example, various process variables related to rubbing are difficult to accurately control. Further, dust adsorption, unwanted scratches generated by the rubbing, and damage to TFTs caused by static electricity can also result from the rubbing. Still further, in the rubbing treatment, pressure cannot always be applied uniformly. As a result, the liquid crystal molecules may have their pretilt angles disturbed so as to form rubbing stripes in small domains of the liquid crystal layer. Such problems reduce manufacturing yields and the performance of LCDs. Because of the forgoing problems, significant effort has been expended in developing alternative alignment techniques.  
      One type of such alternative techniques involves photo-alignment methods which include photo-decomposition, photo-polymerization, and photo-isomerization. In accordance with such methods, optical anisotropy is brought about in a polymer layer by inducing a photo-reaction after most of the molecules facing a polarizing direction in disorderly-aligned polymer molecules have absorbed light. To form a photo-alignment layer using a photo-alignment material, the photo-alignment material is uniformly coated on a substrate. The photo-alignment layer material is then thermally treated and dried in an oven. Subsequently, a structure that assists anisotropy of the liquid crystals is attained by irradiating polarized UV rays onto the exposed surface of the photo-alignment layer.  
      Prior art photo-alignment materials, and LCDs using the same, have problems. For example, the alignment tends to be easily broken by thermal, physical, electrical, and photo shocks. Further, the alignment tends to be hard to restore.  
      Another alternative alignment technique is disclosed in an article by S. Park et al. entitled “Aligning Liquid Crystals Using Replicated Nanopatterns,”  PSI Scientific Report  2002/ Volume VII,  p. 85, March 2003. The disclosed alignment technique entails producing alignment layers for liquid crystal cells using imprint lithography. As disclosed in the article, PMMA was coated on a surface, and relief patterns were imprinted in the PMMA using imprint lithography. Then, the relief patterns were opened to the substrate by etching, and a hydrophobic silane (for example, (tridecafluro-1,1,2,2-tetrahydrooctyl)-trichlorosilane (TFS), was deposited from the gas phase over the opened relief patterns. Finally, a lift-off process of the remaining PMMA left alignment patterns of TFS on the substrate. One problem to be solved with this method is how to integrate the generation of such an alignment method with fabrication of an LCD panel as described above.  
      In light of the above, there is a need for displays and methods to improve fabrication of such displays that overcome one or more of the above-identified problems.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      One or more embodiments of the present invention satisfy one or more of the above-identified needs in the art. In particular, one embodiment of the present invention is a method for fabricating a display that comprises: (a) fabricating a sealing wall having a first height about a periphery of first display structures that have been fabricated on a first substrate; (b) fabricating a containment wall having a second height about the periphery and outside the sealing wall, the second height being less than the first height; (c) dispensing a sealing material between the sealing wall and the containment wall; (d) contacting a second substrate having second display structures to the first substrate; and (e) setting the sealing material to bond the first and second substrates. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       FIG. 1  shows a cross section of a portion of a liquid crystal device (LCD) that has been fabricated in accordance with the prior art;  
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an LCD during fabrication in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  shows a top view of the portion of the LCD that shows a sealing wall and a containment wall that have been fabricated in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an LCD that is fabricated in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an LCD that is fabricated in accordance with one or more alternative embodiments of the present invention;  
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a lithographic system useful in carrying out one or more embodiments of the present invention; and  
       FIG. 7  is a simplified cross-sectional view of an imprint template spaced-apart from the imprinting layer shown in  FIG. 6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      One or more embodiments of the present invention relate to methods for fabricating displays such as, for example and without limitation, liquid crystal display devices (LCDs) using imprint lithography.  
       FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of liquid crystal display device  50  (LCD  50 ) during fabrication in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 2 , a first part of LCD  50  is fabricated in accordance with any one of a number of methods that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art to provide substrate  100  (for example and without limitation, a glass substrate), active areas  110   1  and  110   2  disposed on substrate  100 , and alignment layers  120   1  and  120   2  (for example and without limitation, polyimide, polyamide, polyamic acid, and SiO 2 ) formed over, among other places, active areas  110   1  and  110   2 . It should be noted that active areas  110   1  and  110   2  may include switching transistors or color filters (depending on which of two portions of the LCD is being used to fabricate sealing wall  150  and containment wall  160  (described in detail below). As depicted in  FIG. 2 , active areas  110   1  and  110   2  each represent multiplicities of pixels. For example and without limitation, as is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, and as was described in the Background of the Invention, forming active areas  110   1  and  110   2  may include steps such as: forming gate lines and crossing data lines on substrate  100 ; forming thin film transistors at crossings between the gate and data lines; and forming pixel electrodes connected to the thin film transistors. Alternatively, for example and without limitation, and as was described in the Background of the Invention, forming active areas  110   1  and  110   2  may include steps such as: forming a light leakage protection layer and a color filter layer on substrate  100 ; forming a passivation layer thereover; and forming electrodes on the passivation layer.  
      Next, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, sealing wall  150  (portions  150   1  and  150   2  are shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2 ) is formed on substrate  100  around a periphery of LCD  50 . Optional separation posts (illustrated by separation post  155  in  FIG. 2 ) may be formed at predetermined intervals about the surface of substrate  100 , which separation posts may serve as separators which maintain a predetermined separation interval between LCD substrates. Next, in accordance with such one or more embodiments of the present invention, containment wall  160  (portions  160   1  and  160   2  are shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 2 ) is formed on substrate  100  around a periphery of LCD  50  and outside of sealing wall  150 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , and in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, the height of containment wall  160  is less than the height of sealing wall  150 . Advantageously, as will be explained below, it is believed that sealing wall  150  and containment wall  160  provide a dual wall wherein: (a) sealing wall  150  contains sealing material from entering an inner portion of the LCD; and (b) containment wall  160  provides flow relief for excess sealing material.  
       FIG. 3  shows a top view of LCD portion  50  that shows sealing wall  150  and containment wall  160  (without other structure to make it easier to understand the one or more embodiments of the present invention) that have been fabricated in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 3 , sealing wall  150  surrounds a periphery of LCD  50 , and containment wall  160  surrounds sealing wall  150  and is outside sealing wall  150 .  
      In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, wall sealing wall  150  may be an oxide (for example, SiO x ), a nitride (for example, SiN x ), an oxynitride (SiO x N y ), or any other suitable material. Sealing wall  150 , and optional separation posts  155 , may be formed utilizing any one of a number of fabrication techniques that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art such as masking techniques and etching techniques to provide openings (through structure and layers on substrate  100 ) to substrate  100 . Then, in accordance with any one of a number of methods that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, sealing wall  150 , and optional separation posts  155  are formed to provide the structural configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . Such methods would include chemical vapor deposition techniques using any one of a number of well known precursors. Next, any residual masking material and superfluous material of which sealing wall  150  is formed may be removed using any one of a number of methods that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art, including, for example and without limitation, lift-off processes. Next, containment wall  160  is formed in a manner that will be described in detail below.  
       FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of LCD  50  that is fabricated in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 4 , to form an LCD, the structure having sealing wall  150  and containment wall  160  formed as shown in  FIG. 2  has sealing material  170  (portions  170   1  and  170   2  are shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 4 ) disposed between sealing wall  150  and containment wall  160 . In accordance with such one or more embodiments of the present invention, the sealing material may be any one of a number of epoxy materials that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Then, in accordance with any one of a number of methods that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art: (a) substrate  200  which carries another side of the LCD is placed on top of the structure formed on substrate  100 ; (b) the two parts are aligned in accordance with any one of a number of methods that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art; and (c) the two parts are brought together so that the spacing between the two parts is determined by the height of containment wall  150 , and optional separation posts  155  (if separation posts  155  are not utilized, then any one of a number of other spacer mechanisms that are well to those of ordinary skill in the art may be utilized). In accordance with one or more such embodiments, containment wall  150  may be from about 1 μm to about 2 μm high and from about 10 μm to about 20 μm wide, and containment wall  160  may a few hundred nanometers high and a few hundred nanometers wide. In addition, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the invention, sealing material  170  may leak over containment wall  160  (due, for example, to overfilling of sealing material  170 ) but it will be prevented from flowing into the interior of the LCD by sealing wall  150 . Lastly, sealing material  170  is set or cured in accordance with any one of a number of methods that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art to seal the LCD. Further steps of fabrication relating to injection of liquid crystal material may be carried out in accordance with any one of a number of methods that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. For example, a predetermined liquid crystal material may be injected into a gap between the substrates within a vacuum (which gap was created when sealing wall  160  and containment wall  160  were fabricated), and then the gaps are sealed. In addition, in an alternative embodiment, liquid crystal material may be placed on the structure formed on substrate  100  before or after sealing material  150  is applied, but before the LCD is sealed.  
      In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, containment wall  160  may be formed by the same technique and material used to form sealing wall  150 . Alternatively, containment wall  160  may be formed utilizing imprint lithography techniques wherein containment wall  160  is formed from an imprinting material, for example and without limitation, an acrylate or any low viscosity, UV curable liquid, by depositing the imprinting material for containment wall  160  as a series of drops along a path on substrate  100  upon which containment wall  160  is to be formed. Then, as shown in  FIG. 2 , imprint template  190  is directed to approach substrate  100  at a predetermined distance to contact the imprinting material to provide containment wall  160  having a predetermined height. Next, the imprinting material is cured utilizing any one of a number of methods that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art such as, for example and without limitation, UV curing. Appropriate heights for containment wall  160 , and appropriate distances from sealing wall  150 , can be determined routinely by one of ordinary skill in the art without undue experimentation to provide an appropriate “leaky seal” for use in fabricating LCDs.  
       FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of an LCD  250  that is fabricated in accordance with one or more alternative embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , as was described above, a first part of LCD  250  is fabricated in accordance with any one of a number of methods that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art to provide substrate  300  (for example and without limitation, a glass substrate), active areas  310   1  and  310   2  disposed on substrate  300 . It should be noted that active areas  310   1  and  310   2  may include switching transistors or color filters (depending on which of two portions of the LCD is being used to fabricate sealing wall  350  and containment wall  360  (described in detail below). As depicted in  FIG. 5 , active areas  310   1  and  310   2  represent multiplicities of pixels and may be fabricated in the manner described above in conjunction with  FIG. 2 .  
      Next, in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, an imprinting material from which alignment layer  380  (portions  380   1  and  380   2  are shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5 ), sealing wall  350  (portions  350   1  and  350   2  are shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5 ), optional separation posts (illustrated by separation post  355  in  FIG. 5 ), and containment wall  360  (portions  360   1  and  360   2  are shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 5 ) are to be formed is deposited over the structure formed on substrate  300 . The imprinting material is useful in forming structures utilizing imprint lithography and may be selected from any one of a number of such imprinting materials that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art such as, for example and without limitation, polyimide. Next, structures including containment wall  360 , sealing wall  350 , separation posts  355 , and alignment layer  380  are: (a) formed utilizing an imprint template in accordance with well known methods of imprint lithography; and (b) solidified utilizing well known techniques of imprint lithography to cure the imprinting material. Next, substrate  390  (along with structures carried thereby) is affixed to substrate  300  (along with structures carried thereby) in the same manner that was described above in conjunction with  FIG. 4 . Many methods are well known for fabricating a suitable imprint template to provide the structures described above. For example and without limitation, the imprint template may be fabricated from quartz, and an appropriate relief pattern may be etch therein in accordance with any one of a number of methods that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. In particular, the dimensions of the structures are so much larger than demanding dimensions typically associated with state-of-the art semiconductor fabrication, that a whole host of techniques and imprinting materials that might not be suitable for sophisticated semiconductor fabrication would be suitable for fabricating LCDs. For example, the most demanding portion of the imprint template would be that responsible for providing alignment patterns having widths on the order of about 80 nm to about 200 nm. In addition, one or more further embodiments of the present invention include the use of a multiplicity of imprint templates, for example one imprint template for fabricating the sealing and containment walls, and another imprint template for fabricating the alignment layer. Lastly, an alignment layer may be fabricated on substrate  390  using imprint lithographic methods.  
       FIG. 6  shows lithographic system  10  that may be used to carry out the imprint lithography steps described above in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 6 , system  10  includes a pair of spaced-apart bridge supports  12  having bridge  14  and stage support  16  extending therebetween. As further shown in  FIG. 6 , bridge  14  and stage support  16  are spaced-apart. Imprint head  18  is coupled to bridge  14 , and extends from bridge  14  toward stage support  16 . Motion stage  20  is disposed upon stage support  16  to face imprint head  18 , and motion stage  20  is configured to move with respect to stage support  16  along X and Y axes. An exemplary motion stage device is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/194,414, filed Jul. 11, 2002, entitled “Step and Repeat Imprint Lithography Systems,” assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Radiation source  22  is coupled to system  10  to impinge actinic radiation upon motion stage  20 . As further shown in  FIG. 6 , radiation source  22  is coupled to bridge  14 , and includes power generator  23  connected to radiation source  22 . An exemplary lithographic system is available under the trade name IMPRIO 100™ from Molecular Imprints, Inc. having a place of business at 1807-C Braker Lane, Suite 100, Austin, Tex. 78758. The system description for the IMPRIO 100™ is available at www.molecularimprints.com and is incorporated herein by reference. As is well known, imprint patterns are fabricated using lithographic system  10  by stepping across the substrate in accordance with imprint lithography methods that are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art.  
       FIG. 7  is a simplified cross-sectional view of an imprint template spaced-apart from the imprinting layer shown in  FIG. 6 . Referring to  FIG. 7 , connected to imprint head  18  is imprint template  28  that includes a plurality of features defined by a plurality of spaced-apart recessions  28   a  and protrusions  28   b.  The plurality of features defines a pattern that is to be transferred into substrate  31  positioned on motion stage  20 . As described above, substrate  31  includes the portion of the LCD: (a) onto which containment wall  160  is to be molded (as was described above in conjunction with  FIG. 2 ); or (b) onto which containment wall  360 , sealing wall  350 , optional separation posts  355 , and alignment layer  380  are to be molded (as was described above in conjunction with  FIG. 5 ). To that end, imprint head  18  is adapted to move along the Z axis and vary a distance “d” between imprint template  28  and substrate  31 . In this manner, the desired features on imprint template  28  may be imprinted into a conformable region of substrate  31 . Radiation source  22  is located so that imprint template  28  is positioned between radiation source  22  and substrate  31 . As a result, imprint template  28  is fabricated from material that allows it to be substantially transparent to the radiation produced by radiation source  22 .  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , a conformable region, such as imprinting layer  34 , is disposed on a portion of surface  32  that presents a predetermined profile. It should be understood that the conformable region may be formed using any known technique to produce conformable material on surface  32  such as, for example and without limitation, a hot embossing process disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,905 to Chou, or a laser assisted direct imprinting (LADI) process of the type described by Chou et al. in  Ultrafast and Direct Imprint of Nanostructures in Silicon,  Nature, Col. 417, pp. 835-837, June 2002. In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, the conformable region is deposited as a plurality of spaced-apart discrete droplets  36  of imprinting material on substrate  31 . An exemplary system for depositing droplets  36  is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/191,749, filed Jul. 9, 2002, entitled “System and Method for Dispensing Liquids,” and which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein. Imprinting layer  34  is formed from an imprinting material that may be selectively polymerized and cross-linked to record the original pattern therein, defining a recorded pattern. An exemplary composition for the imprinting material is disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/463,396, filed Jun. 16, 2003 and entitled “Method to Reduce Adhesion between a Conformable Region and a Pattern of a Mold,” which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , a pattern recorded in imprinting layer  34  is produced, in part, by mechanical contact with imprint template  28 . To that end, imprint head  18  reduces the distance “d” to allow imprinting layer  34  to come into mechanical contact with imprint template  28 , spreading droplets  36  so as to form imprinting layer  34  with a contiguous formation of imprinting material over a predetermined portion of surface  32 . As is well known, distance “d” may be reduced to allow portions of imprinting layer  34  to ingress into and fill recessions  28   a  in imprint template  28 .  
      To facilitate filling of recessions  28   a,  the imprinting material is provided with the requisite properties to fill recessions  28   a  while covering the predetermined portion of surface  32  with a contiguous formation of the imprinting material.  
      Referring to  FIG. 7 , after a desired distance “d” has been reached, radiation source  22  produces actinic radiation that polymerizes and cross-links the imprinting material, forming polymer material in which a substantial portion thereof is cross-linked. As a result, the imprinting material transforms to a material that is a solid. Specifically, the solidified material has a shape conforming to a shape of the surface of imprint template  28 . Then, imprint head  18  is moved so that imprint template  28  and imprinting layer  34  are spaced-apart.  
      Exemplary radiation source  22  may produce ultraviolet radiation; however, any known radiation source may be employed. The selection of radiation employed to initiate the polymerization of the imprinting material in imprinting layer  34  is known to one skilled in the art and typically depends on the specific application which is desired. As one can readily appreciate, the plurality of features on imprint template  28 , for example, recessions  28   a  and protrusions  28   b,  may correspond to virtually any feature required to create a containment wall, sealing wall, separation posts, and/or an alignment layer.  
      As is well known, imprint template  28  may be formed from various conventional materials, such as, for example and without limitation, fused-silica, quartz, silicon, organic polymers, siloxane polymers, borosilicate glass, fluorocarbon polymers, metal, hardened sapphire and the like.  
      As mentioned above, the imprinting material is deposited on substrate  31  as a plurality of discrete and spaced-apart droplets  36 . The combined volume of droplets  36  is such that the imprinting material is distributed appropriately over an area of surface  32  where imprinting layer  34  is to be formed. As a result, imprinting layer  34  is spread and patterned concurrently, with the pattern being subsequently set into imprinting layer  34  by exposure to radiation, such as ultraviolet radiation. As a result of the deposition process, it is desired that the imprinting material have certain characteristics to facilitate rapid and even spreading of material  36   a  in droplets  36  over surface  32  so that all thicknesses are substantially uniform. Desirable characteristics include having a low viscosity, for example and without limitation, in a range of about 0.5 to about 5 centepoise (csp), as well as the ability to wet surface of substrate  31  and imprint template  28  and to avoid subsequent pit or hole formation after polymerization.  
      The constituent components that form the imprinting material to provide the aforementioned characteristics may differ. This results from substrate  31  being formed from a number of different materials. As a result, the chemical composition of surface  32  varies dependent upon the material from which substrate  31  is formed. For example, substrate  31  may be formed from silicon, plastics, glass, composites thereof, and so forth.  
      As is well known, to ensure proper release from an imprint template, a minimum surface energy is desired, for example and without limitation, by proper alignment of hydrophobic groups in the imprinting material at its interface with a surface of the imprint template. In accordance with one particular method of imprinting, the surface of the imprint template is pre-treated utilizing a surfactant solution consisting of 0.1% FSO-100 in isopropyl alcohol (“IPA”), and the imprinting material includes a small amount of FSO-100 (FSO-100 is a surfactant that is available under the designation ZONYL® FSO-100 from DUPONT™ (FSO-100 has a general structure of R 1 R 2  where R 1 =F(CF 2 CF 2 ) Y , with Y being in a range of 1 to 7, inclusive and R 2 =CH 2 CH 2 O(CH 2 CH 2 O) X H, where X is in a range of 0 to 15, inclusive). FSO-100 is a fluorinated surfactant having a molecular weight of about 600, and it aligns efficiently at the surface of the imprint template with hydrophobic —CF 3  groups projecting towards the surface of the imprint template. Such alignment is promoted by pre-treating the surface (prior to pre-treatment utilizing a surfactant solution consisting of 0.1% FSO-100 in IPA) to create silanol bonds on the surface.  
      Alternatively, one may use a different fluorinated surfactant from FSO-100, and in particular, a fluorinated surfactant that is available under the designation 3M Novec™ Fluorosurfactant FC-4432 (hereafter referred to as FC-4432) from 3M Company St. Paul, Minn. FC-4432 is a non-ionic polymeric fluorochemical surfactant belonging to a class of coating additives which provide low surface tensions in organic coating systems. The composition of FC-4432 is 87% polymeric fluorochemical actives, 7% non-fluorochemical actives, 5% 1-methyl-2-pyrudiinone, and &lt;1% toluene. FC-4432 is a wetting, leveling and flow control agent for radiation curable polymer coating systems, and continues to be active throughout the curing process. FC-4432 is the first in a new line of fluorochemical surfactants from the 3M Company based on perfluorosulfate (PFBS), where PFBS refers collectively to perfluorobutane sulfonyl compounds including perfluorobutance sulfonates. In addition, such PFBS-based surfactants with only four perfluorinated carbon atoms offer improved environmental properties. The molecular weight of FC-4432 is about 4000, and because of its higher molecular weight than that of FSO-100, the fluorinated groups of FC-4432 align differently at the surface of an imprint template than those in FSO-100. In particular, besides —CF 3  groups of FSO-100, FC-4432 has a higher percentage of —CF 2  groups when compared to FSO-100. Because a —CF 2  group provides a higher surface energy than a —CF 3  group, the presence of a higher percentage of —CF 2  groups in FC-4432 provides a material having better wetting than FS-100. However, despite its higher surface energy, a —CF2— group is hydrophobic enough so that its use produces a material having a good release property. In addition, it is believed that the higher molecular weight of FC-4432 (when compared to that of FSO-100) causes FC-4432 to act like a loosely packed coil structure that results in more porous molecular packing of surfactant molecules at the surface of the imprint template. It is further believed that this coil structure helps enhance wetting over that provided by FSO-100 in addition to that provided by the presence of a higher percentage of —CF 2  groups in FC-4432 when compared to FSO-100.  
      An exemplary composition for the imprinting material that utilizes the surfactant FC-4432 is produced by mixing (with exemplary proportions being given in weight): (i) acryloxymethylpentamethyldisiloxane (for example and without limitation, about 37 gm) which is available under the designation XG-1064 from Gelest, Inc. of Morrisville, Pa., (ii) isobornyl acrylate (“IBOA”) (for example and without limitation, about 42 gm) which is available under the designation SR 506 from Aldrich Chemical Company of Milwaukee, Wis., (iii) ethylene glycol diacrylate (for example and without limitation, about 18 gm) which is available under the designation EGDA from Aldrich Chemical Company of Milwaukee, Wis., (iv) a UV photoinitiator, for example and without limitation, 2-hydrozy-2-methyl-1-phenyl-propan-1-one (for example and without limitation, about 3 gm) which is available under the designation Darocur 1173 from CIBA® of Tarrytown, N.Y.), and (iv) FC-4432 (for example and without limitation, about 0.5 gm). The above-identified composition may also include stabilizers that are well known in the chemical art to increase the operational life of the composition. In a typical such embodiment, the surfactant comprises less than 1% of the imprinting material. However, the percentage of the surfactant may be greater than 1%.  
      Another manner by which to improve the release properties of imprint template  28  includes conditioning the pattern of imprint template  28  by exposing the same to a conditioning mixture including an additive that will remain on imprint template  28  to reduce the surface energy of the imprint template surface. An exemplary additive is a surfactant.  
      The following describes a method for imprint lithography that utilizes one or more embodiments of the above-described imprinting material. As a first step, the surface of a quartz imprint template is pre-treated to create hydrophilic bonds at the surface, for example and without limitation silanol (Si—OH) bonds. In accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention, the surface of the imprint template is dipped in a 2.5:1 solution of H 2 SO 4  and H 2 O 2  to hydrolyze the surface, i.e., to create silanol bonds at the surface. As a next step, the surface is further pre-treated by spraying the surface of the imprint template with a diluted FC-4432 solution (for example and without limitation, 0.1% FC-4432 in IPA). Exposure of the surface of the imprint template may be achieved by virtually any method known in the art, including dipping the surface into a volume of pre-treatment solution, wiping the surface with a cloth saturated with pre-treatment solution, and spraying a stream of pre-treatment solution onto the surface. The IPA in the pre-treatment solution may be allowed to evaporate before using the imprint template  28 . In this manner, the IPA facilitates removing undesired contaminants from the surface while leaving the surfactant. Because the surfactant includes a hydrophobic, fluorine-rich end, and a hydrophilic end, the silanol bonds promote alignment of the surfactant so that the hydrophilic end “attaches” to the —OH end of the silanol bonds, and the hydrophobic, fluorine-rich end points away from the surface. In a next step, a gap between the imprint template and the substrate may be purged of air (mainly O 2  and N 2 ) using, for example and without limitation, an ˜5 psi Helium purge. In a next step, the imprinting material containing the FC-4432 surfactant is applied to the substrate, for example and without limitation, by placing a pattern of substantially equidistant droplets of imprinting material on the substrate, by spin-coating, or by any other method known to those of ordinary skill in the art. Next, the familiar steps of imprint lithography are carried out, i.e., exposure to actinic radiation to polymerize the imprinting material; and separation of the imprint template and the substrate.  
      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, therefore, be determined not with reference to the above description, but instead should be determined with reference to the appended claims along with their full scope of equivalents. For example, one or more embodiments of the present invention are applicable for use in fabricating a reflection type LCD device, a transflective (i.e., transmission/reflection) type LCD device, a plasma panel device, and so forth.