Bay 4: Deposition

IMS Cleanroom bay 4 sign

Mask Aligner

OAI Model 200

The OAI Model 200 Mask Aligner is a cost-effective high-performance mask Aligner that has been engineered with industry-proven components in the photolithography industry. It is a highly flexible, economical solution for any mask alignment and UV exposure application. It is enabling photolithography, which is a microfabrication process used to selectively remove parts of a thin film to create a pattern or a design onto a substrate.

The alignment module includes micrometers for precise adjustment along the X, Y, and Z axes. A UV light source at a wavelength of 365 nm delivers focused UV light across the entire wafer. This equipment can reliably create patterns in photoresist at the micron scale using a transmission mask with a maximum of 5 inches in size. The substrate is swiftly leveled to ensure accurate alignment with the photomask and uniform contact across the substrate during contact exposure. The maximum substrate size exposed is 5 inches in diameter.

OAI Model 200 Mask Aligner

Maskless Aligner

Heidelberg Instruments µMLA System

The tabletop µMLA system is state-of-the-art in maskless technology built on the renowned µPG platform – the most sold tabletop maskless system worldwide. It is a perfect entry-level research and development (R&D) tool for virtually any application requiring microstructures. Typical examples are microfluidics (cell sorting devices, lab-on-a-chip), small-scale mask-writing, micro-optics, microlens arrays, sensors, MEMS, contacting 2D materials, fan-out electrodes, etc.

The substrate size is up to 6x6 inches (150x150 mm) with a minimum feature size of 1.0 µm. The maximum write speed at 4 µm resolution is 90 mm2/min (0.14 sq inch/min) using an LED light source with 365 nm exposure wavelength.

Image of Maskless Aligner (Heidelberg Instruments µMLA system) being operated in the UConn IMS Cleanroom

Other Equipment

Wet Processing and Cleaning Stations, Bake Plates, Spin-Coater, Sonicator

There are six wet chemistry fume hoods, a combination of stainless steel and polymer units designed for various chemical processing tasks (cleaning, wet etching, etc.) employed in semiconductor and microelectronic device fabrication.

Hood 1 in Bay Area 4 (Spin Coater-Bake Plate hood) is dedicated to photolithography processes and includes a spin-coater and bake plates for applying photoresist and other polymers. Hood 2 in Bay Area 4 (Developer hood) has all photoresists and is also suited for pattern development, wafer cleaning, photoresist removal, and other processes.

Image of hood 1 in bay 4 of UConn IMS cleanroom at Science 1 Research Center. Bake Plates and Spin Coater