Harvard College

Declan Ryan

George M Whitesides

Vincent Linder

Babak Amir-Parviz

Samuel K Sia

Vincent Semetey

Byron Gates

The present invention provides fabrication methods using sacrificial materials comprising polymers. In some embodiments, the polymer may be treated to alter its solubility with respect to at least one solvent (e.g., aqueous solution) used in the fabrication process. The preparation of the sacrificial materials is rapid and simple, and dissolution of the sacrificial material can be carried out in mild environments. Sacrificial materials of the present invention may be useful for surface micromachining, bulk micromachining, and other microfabrication processes in which a sacrificial layer is employed for producing a selected and corresponding physical structure.

Adjustable solubility in sacrificial layers for microfabrication

A series of methods, compositions, and articles for patterning a surface with multiple, aligned layers of molecules, by exposing the molecules to electromagnetic radiation is provided. In certain embodiments, a single photomask acts as an area-selective filter for light at multiple wavelengths. A single set of exposures of multiple wavelengths through this photomask may make it possible to fabricate a pattern comprising discontinuous multiple regions, where the regions differ from each other in at least one chemical and/or physical property, without acts of alignment between the exposures. In certain embodiments, the surface includes molecules attached thereto that can be photocleaved upon exposure to a certain wavelength of radiation, thereby altering the chemical composition on at least a portion of the surface.

Patterning and alteration of molecules

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County Kerry, Ireland

Declan Ryan