Patent ID: 7752997

Claim:
Apparatus for generating a mask having a nanoscale pattern, the apparatus comprising: a container having a top portion and a bottom portion, at least one sidewall between the top portion and the bottom portion, and an enclosed area formed by the top portion, the bottom portion and the at least one sidewall; a supporting liquid disposed within the container, the supporting liquid forming a top surface at a first given height between the bottom portion and top portion of the container; a substrate positionable within the container at a second given height from the bottom portion thereof, the substrate having a top surface disposed toward the top portion of the container; a suspension comprising a suspension fluid having a plurality of particles suspended therein, the suspension being selectively deliverable to the enclosed area within the container; adjustment means for adjusting at least one of the first given height of the top surface of the supporting liquid and the second given height of the top surface of the substrate relative to one another so as to transfer the plurality of particles within the suspension from a first position to a second position, wherein the first given height of the top surface of the supporting liquid is higher than the second given height of the top surface of the substrate at the first position and the first given height of the top surface of the fluid is lower than the second given height of the top surface of the substrate at the second position so as to deposit the plurality of particles onto the top surface of the substrate and generate a nanoscale pattern thereon; and a vapor pressure controller for selectively controlling vapor pressure within the container so as to adjust the evaporation rate of the suspension fluid.