Slot-die coating method, apparatus, and substrate

Abstract

There is disclosed a slot-die coating method and apparatus, and a substrate having a patterned coating layer. The method comprises controlling an intermittent transfer of the coating fluid from a slot-die coating head onto the substrate surface to provide, by said intermittent transfer, coated areas on the substrate surface separated by uncoated areas. The substrate surface comprises a pre-patterned layer of high surface energy areas and low surface energy areas; wherein a contact angle of the coating fluid on the substrate surface is lower in the high surface energy areas than in the low surface energy areas. Boundaries between the low surface energy areas and high surface energy areas are arranged along a slit direction of the slot die coating head. The method further comprises synchronizing the intermittent transfer with a passage of an outflow opening over the boundaries between the low surface energy areas and high surface energy areas wherein the transfer is enabled when the outflow opening passes over a high surface energy area and wherein the transfer is disabled when the outflow opening passes over a low surface energy area.