Patent ID: 8309496

Claim:
A method of synthesizing an array of polymers, the method comprising: (a) providing a substrate, wherein the substrate includes an array synthesis surface, and wherein the array synthesis surface comprises functional groups protected by photolabile protecting groups; (b) deprotecting the functional groups within selected regions of the array synthesis surface with illumination configured to remove the photolabile protecting groups and produce exposed functional groups, wherein the illumination occurs within a synthesis system, wherein the synthesis system comprises a light source and an anti-reflective coating, and wherein the anti-reflective coating reduces reflection of one or more wavelengths of the illumination within the synthesis system; (c) coupling monomers to the exposed functional groups within the selected regions, wherein the monomers are protected by photolabile protecting groups; and (d) repeating steps (b)-(c) for one or more repetitions with different sets of selected regions to synthesize the array of polymers.