Since 2021 micro resist technology (MRT) has been offering a monthly free online seminar series "mrt webinar - meet the experts" to present innovative photopolymers and related materials developed by MRT and its partners. Due to the never-ending positive feedback from the community, our webinars will continue indefinitely in order to accompany you and your work on a monthly basis. For this, we are in the constant process of organizing future topics and experts contributions.

During the webinar series, we review innovations in commercial material solutions which meet both, scientific work where emerging nanofabrication is employed as well as advanced production at industrial level. Furthermore, we occasionally team up with technology partners and academic companions to highlight joined forces for advanced process developments.

Each one-hour webinar consists of an expert’s presentation followed by a moderated Q&A with our specialists. The invitation is addressed primarily to our customers and partners, but also to the general audience from industry and science.

Next Session:

How to apply positive tone photoresists - useful hints

In the decades of MRT’s existence, we have constantly expanded our product range employed in photolithography. This also applies to the positive tone photoresists where we help our customers developing new processes and pushing lithographic limits. In this edition of our webinar series, our expert Dr. Christine Schuster will use our accumulated processing know-how to guide you through frequently asked questions about photolithography processes using positive tone resists and provide useful answers.

Date: 15th January 2024, 13:30 - 14:30 CET
Expert: Dr. Christine Schuster

Please register here:

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/896409184284442202

Upcoming Session:

will be announced shortly

Previous Session:

From High-Density Structures to High-Index Materials: Expanding the Capabilities of Nanoimprint Lithography

The next edition of our webinar series is dedicated to the production of NIL-Master. Our expert Dr. Matt Traut from imec will take us along and present various options of this technology. Nanoimprint lithography provides a connection between the expensive precision of CMOS and the manufacturing of lower cost devices. The production of NIL masters using deep ultra-violet photolithography allows high-resolution, high-density layouts to be achieved over large areas and replicated with great materials flexibility. This presentation will cover several example cases, including pattern transfer of extremely dense nanohole networks in low-index material, pattern transfer of optical gratings to a high-index dielectric, and fabrication of multi-step optical elements in functional resist.

Date: 11th December 2024
Expert: Dr. Matt Traub (imec)

Advances in TPP fabrication: How to increase throughput

This upcoming edition of our “Meet the Experts” webinar series is dedicated to the latest advances in 3D nanoprinting using two-photon polymerization (TPP). Our expert Dr. Benedikt Stender from Heidelberg Instruments will present and discuss possible manufacturing and scanning strategies for different types of designs in terms of seamless quality and high throughput. He will also show how throughput can be increased by at least one order of magnitude by modulating the local voxel size. In addition, an outlook on ongoing investigations will be given on how TPP fabrication can be boosted by a factor of 100 compared to the state-of-the-art methods.
Date: 20th November 2024
Expert: Dr. Benedikt Stender (Heidelberg Instruments Mikrotechnik GmbH)

Hybrid polymers as optical waveguide materials

In this edition of our webinar series “Meet the Experts” we will highlight the use of hybrid polymers for optical on-chip waveguides as announced previously this year. This time we will focus on the requirements for polymeric optical waveguide materials, e.g. low optical loss and adapted refractive index to allow optical device integration. Our expert Dr. Maria Russew will present latest results from material developments within the joined project “PolyChrome Berlin” utilizing polymeric waveguide materials for the fabrication of hybrid photonics integrated circuits (PICs).
Date: 23rd October 2024
Expert: Dr. Maria Russew

Substrate Conformal Imprint Lithography: Method, Materials, Applications

We are excited to continue our monthly webinar series after the summer break with a technical discourse on substrate conformal nanoimprint lithography (SCIL). Our partner expert Dr. Marc Verschuuren is CTO of SCIL Nanoimprint solutions and will present the work he and the SCIL team have developed on this unique method, providing details on the process and materials used. In addition, he will show selected application results and highlight the distinctive advantages of substrate conformal imprint lithography.
Date: 11th September 2024
Expert: Dr. Marc Verschuuren (SCIL Nanoimprint solutions)

Update on greyscale lithography employing a highly sensitive positive photoresist designed for > 100 µm deep greyscale patterns

In this webinar we report on our latest investigations with the novel photoresist mr-P 22G specifically designed to enable greyscale photoresist pattern beyond 100 µm topography features. Our expert Dr. Christine Schuster will demonstrate that further process development in Direct Writing Lithography led to photoresist pattern depths of up to 170 µm in relevant pattern quality. Additionally, the alternative approach based on the UV exposure through adequate greyscale photomasks will be discussed. Finally, the pattern transfer of deep greyscale resist patterns into materials suitable for permanent application such as micro-optics will be showcased with different methods.
Date: 19th June 2024
Expert: Dr. Christine Schuster

Maintaining Precision from Micro to Macro: Lithographic Replication and Additive Manufacturing of Optics

Hybrid Polymers from MRT open up many possibilities in the field for the production of micro-optics and macro-optics with nanostructuring. In particular, the replication of cost-intensive master structures, produced with ultra-precision manufacturing, allows these special optics to be made accessible to broader markets. Our expert Dr. Stefan Kühne will present his groups work incl. cleanroom manufacturing using two-photon lithography with hybrid polymers which enable the production of application-capable optics. Specified precision will be addressed as well as specific process controls and test procedures with measurement standards as a necessary prerequisite.
Date: 15 May 2024
Expert: Dr. Stefan Kühne (TU Berlin)

From lab to fab: Next generation NIL materials for pattern transfer

Innovative resists and polymers for nanoimprint lithography (NIL) with excellent pattern transfer properties for advanced nanofabrication have always been of great importance in the NIL user community. Our expert, Dr. Mirko Lohse, will present the material solutions MRT offers in particular for pattern transfer and highlight some of the latest developments. Further, he will introduce solutions beyond a single layer process and indicate where this can enable advancements for future nanofabrication in optics and photonics.
Date: 17 April 2024
Expert: Dr. Mirko Lohse

Innovative Chemical Solutions for Microfabrication and Wafer Level Packaging

We are pleased to host this webinar in cooperation with our US-based partner company, Kayaku Advanced Materials Inc. (KAM). Our expert Aurelie is Senior Technical Sales Representative and will provide an overview of the broad range of specialized permanent and temporary resists offered by KAM including the newest product line-up for advanced wafer level packaging, MEMS and microelectronic fabrication.
Date: 13 March 2024
Expert: Aurelie Mayeux, Kayaku Advanced Materials Inc.

Hybrid photonic integrated circuits (PICs) using polymeric optical waveguide materials

As an innovation-driven company, we continuously work with high-level research partners to advance our portfolio. One example is the close collaborations with the Fraunhofer Heinrich Hertz Institute (HHI), which is a leader in the development and manufacture of polymer-based hybrid optical integration platform for applications in optical communication, quantum and sensor technology. Our guest expert Crispin Zawadzki is deputy head of the Hybrid PICs team at HHI and will provide an overview of the prospects and challenges of hybrid integrated circuits using polymeric optical waveguide materials.

Date: 14 February 2024
Expert: Crispin Zawadzki, FhG Heinrich Hertz Institute

Dry film photoresists from MRT - processing and application examples
micro resist technology GmbH is distributor of dry film resists (DFR) both of DJ Microlaminates and DuPont, suitable for advanced micro-patterning applications in micro-electronics, MEMS and wafer level packaging. DFRs are high performance, photo-imageable resist films which can be easily applied by lamination, thus allowing to coat on pre-patterned and non-wafer based substrate or where generic spin coating process is not applicable. This solvent-free manufacturing technique yields exceptional film thickness uniformity and extremely low average surface roughness, as will be introduced in general by our photoresist expert Dr. Anja Voigt.
Date: 17 January 2024
Expert: Dr. Anja Voigt

The beauty and versatility of nanoimprint lithography
As a long-standing research partner of MRT, the team around Dr. Michael Mühlberger has been intensively researching nanoimprint lithography (NIL) for many years. The industrial applicability of NIL has been advanced through numerous projects and new applications from nano-optics to life sciences is being further researched. Particularly exciting: commercial materials have been intensively used (and partly modified) to suit Profactor's customer needs. Michael will give a very special review of the uniqueness of NIL for research and industry.
Date: 6 December 2023
Expert: Dr. Michael Mühlberger, PROFACTOR GmbH

All-polymer micro-opto-electromechanical systems and actuators
Epoxy-based negative tone polymers present interesting features enabling its use for micro-opto-electromechanical systems (MOEMS) and polymer actuators. Our partner Dr. Andreu Llobera, currently holding the position as Head of Research Unit Photonic Systems at Silicon Austria Labs, will report on his long-term research work including photonic micro devices and photonic materials. He will report for example from a technological perspective, that aspect ratios higher than 20:1 are achievable. From an optical perspective, assumable losses around less than 2 dB/cm enable the implementation of polymer-based circuits at the surface of polymer MEMS. And if the high coefficient of thermal expansion is taken as an advantage, simple electrical or optical actuation were enabled as will be shown in his webinar presentation.
Date: 11 October 2023
Expert: Dr. Andreu Llobera, Silicon Austria Labs (SAL)

High aspect ratio / high resolution photolithography on hybrid polymers
After our summer break, we will highlight the rarely known photolithographic properties of hybrid polymers, e.g. of OrmoComp. Originally developed for micro-optical applications, these materials can be patterned with generic replication techniques such as nanoimprint lithography and alike. However, they have been always exhibiting an interesting potential of alternative micro-structuring as well using i-line photolithography processes. In this context, Andreas Benker, Laboratory Manager of the application lab of Technical Service Europe from our partner Merck Performance Materials GmbH, will present and discuss the very latest photolithographic results on hybrid polymers patterned with i-line photolithography, its resolution boundaries and related non-intuitive process conditions.
Date: 13 September 2023
Expert: Andreas Benker, Merck Performance Materials GmbH

Let’s burn it all – The Pyrolytic Carbon Destiny of 3D Photoresist Structures
Before we go into the summer break, our expert Prof. Sylvest Keller will report on a variety of novel processes for the production of 3D micro and nanostructures with thick film photoresists such as SU-8 and mr-DWL that he and his research team have developed over the last 15 years. These polymeric precursor structures can be converted to carbon by pyrolysis. The resulting 3D pyrolytic carbon electrodes have been used for biosensing, electrochemical cell monitoring or energy storage. Stephan will present some of the opportunities and challenges and show how processes such as deep UV lithography and additive manufacturing enable further expanding the dimensional range from nm to mm scale.
Date: 14 June 2023
Expert: Prof. Stephan Sylvest Keller, National Centre for Nano Fabrication and Characterization, DTU Nanolab, Technical University of Denmark

2D to 4D printing: advanced polymer patterning for optics and photonics
It has always been a strong motivation to technologically advance micro- and nanofabrication by combining different patterning processes. In this context, the webinar expert’s presentation by Dr. Robert Kirchner will demonstrate how permanent polymer microstructures for optics and photonics applications such as waveguides, resonant cavities and micro-lenses can be fabricated efficiently. Following a unique mix-and-match concept, he will report on his recent work that covers advanced manufacturing techniques such as polymer replication using UV-assisted nanoimprint lithography (NIL),  grayscale electron beam lithography (GEBL), and 2-photon direct 3D laser printing (2PP). The presentation will also look into the most recent developments in multi-material 2PP techniques for the next generation of printed optics and therefore give different examples why UV-curable materials are key to technological success.
Date: 17 May 2023
Expert: Dr. Robert Kirchner (HETEROMERGE)

Pushing deep greyscale lithography beyond 100 µm pattern depth with a novel photoresist
In this webinar we will showcase a novel photoresist prototype specifically dedicated to enable greyscale lithography of very deep patterns up to 120 µm, with the prospect of even deeper patterns. Issues limiting the pattern depth caused by the photoresist chemistry were addressed with a well-considered choice of photoresist ingredients, but also with adjustments of the corresponding lithography process. With these results, we push the capabilities of greyscale lithography when it is applied to manufacture complex 2.5D and freeform microstructures in photoresists which serve as master for the pattern transfer into materials for permanent applications, often used in micro-optics.
Date: 19 April 2023
Expert: Dr. Christine Schuster

How to use hybrid polymers - a guideline towards optimal processes
In 2023, we celebrate the important anniversary of product launches for OrmoStamp® (15 years) and InkOrmo (10 years). And we take this as a happy occasion to review important and frequently asked questions about our products from the “Ormo” series we have been asked by a growing number of users over the time. It is our continuous effort to share with the community our evolving know-how for optimal processes when working with hybrid polymers. Therefore, in this webinar edition, our expert Dr. Maria Russew will walk you through the processing guidelines of our hybrid polymers and answer selected user questions in order to enable optimal processes, e.g. for the manufacture of micro-optics.
Date: 15 March 2023
Expert: Dr. Maria Russew

Update on our materials and industry collaborations for nanoimprint lithography (NIL)
Many exciting things have happened due to our ongoing activities regarding nanoimprint lithography (NIL) since the last mrt webinar on NIL materials. Therefore, in the February edition, our expert Dr. Mirko Lohse will review the news within the versatile portfolio provided by our nanoimprint group and update you on the latest achievements through our industry collaborations and novel customer applications.
Date: 15 February 2023
Expert: Dr. Mirko Lohse

A concept study on printing processes for individual micro-optical components
In our first webinar in 2023, we start the new year with a focus on our application technology and development skills within micro resist technology. Our expert Johannes Wolf will demonstrate, among other things, the hybrid polymers as versatile materials for micro and nano fabrication. Specifically, he will summarize a concept study that was conducted as an in-house development, examining fabrication routes for prototyping individual micro-optical components using inkjet printing. In doing so, he took advantage of the ability of hybrid polymers to be inkjet compatible on the one hand and to remain a material with exceptional replication fidelity on the other. This allowed him to generate a hybrid and biconvex microlens component, but he wants to inspire the community beyond this exemplary application.
Date: 18 January 2023
Expert: Johannes Wolf

Overview on Mix-and-Match Process Innovation
Our upcoming webinar will highlight a novel mix-and-match approach that connects the high resolution of electron beam lithography (EBL) and the fast exposure of optical i-line stepper lithography. The Head of the Nanolithography group at Fraunhofer ENAS, Dr. Danny Reuter, will give the expert’s presentation. He will show how a photoresist layer of ma-N 1402 was successfully employed to overcome limiting factors in the ongoing miniaturization of microelectronics and nano-electro-mechanical systems (NEMS) by advanced micro- and nanofabrication processes.
Date: 14 December 2022
Expert: Dr. Danny Reuter (FhG ENAS)

Micro- and nanotopographies for Bio application
In this webinar we will host an external expert that has been a customer and research partner to MRT for many years. Currently located in Australia, Dr. Victor Cadarso will show how cells can perceive and react to different micro-topographies. Furthermore, he will demonstrate how we can harness these patterns for example to define the fate of stem cells or to accelerate recovery times when implants with specific micro-topographies are employed that have been previously generated in suitable photoresists and photopolymers by means of micro and nanolithography.
Date: 16 November 2022
Expert: Victor Cardaso (Monash University)

Customized imaging optics based on UV-replicated polymer aspherical lensesWe are back after the summer break! And we will start our webinar series with a presentation by our partner modern camera designs GmbH, which is taking a new approach to lens production using UV-curable hybrid polymers. This technology enables both the economic production of prototypes and the series production of complex imaging systems. The webinar will thus present the advantages of this new technology and its process chain, discuss the materials used and show camera systems realized with the optical components so far.
Date: 12 October 2022
Expert: Frank Wippermann (mcd – modern camera designs GmbH)

Review on MRT’s Ancillary Products
In this contribution, we report on MRT’s a hidden competence in ancillary products which are coming together with our photoresists, polymers and NIL materials.  We often only advertise dedicated process chemicals in connection with photoresists and polymers. But they are equally developed and optimized to give excellent patterning properties. We will review our ancillary products with tailored composition and properties designed for MRT’s products for state-of-the-art patterning techniques. Furthermore, we will discuss general applicability (e.g. to our distribution products) to meet the requirements of lithographical performance for industrial large-scale productions.
Date: 8 June, 2022
Expert: Dr. Anja Voigt

An Overview of DuPont’s i (g)-line, Solvents, Developer and ancillary product offering
This time we will host our webinar in cooperation with our US-based partner company DuPont. This webinar will focus on DuPont’s legacy photoresists that are broadband, g-line and i-line capable. Several i/g resist platforms will be discussed that support different customer requirements such as thickness (above10 µm in a single coat), high resolution and throughput needs, excellent wet/dry etch adhesion, thermal properties and plating compatibilities. Moreover, developers, removers and ancillary products will be discussed to demonstrate that DuPont offers total material solutions across various resist technologies.
Date: 18 May 2022
Expert: Dr. Vipul Jain (DuPont), Florian Trept (DuPont)

Nanoimprinted polymer devices for micro and nanofluidics and single molecule analysis
In the next webinar session we will be supported by a special expert guest and company friend, i.e. Dr. Irene Fernandez-Cuesta, currently active at the Universität Hamburg (Germany). As Head of Group “Nano-Opto-Fluidics” Irene will report on her international research work at various renowned academic institutes in Europe and USA, which has always been related to MRT’s materials. This way, we will learn more about unique concepts in nanoimprinted polymer devices manufacture for micro and nanofluidics and single molecule analysis.
Date: 13 April 2022
Expert: Dr. Irene Fernandez-Cuesta

Update on MRT’s Photoresists for Mask Aligner, Stepper, E-beam and Laser Lithography and their applications
In the upcoming webinar we will give a basic lecture and update on our photoresist materials and their different applications in standard, high resolution lithography as well as thick film technology. We present MRT’s portfolio and highlight our photoresists with tailored composition and properties designed for the fabrication of 2D, 2.5D and complex 3D microstructures. News about adapting lithographical performance and reliability as well as the state-of-the-art patterning techniques for industrial large-scale productions of components and devices will be given.
Date: 16 March 2022
Expert: Dr. Anja Voigt

A starting point of nanofabrication using NIL: compact tool and tailored material kit
In this webinar we will spotlight the collaboration with our partner company NIL Technology ApS that has the goal to provide a starting point of nanofabrication when nanoimprint lithography (NIL) is employed – for example to manufacture nanophotonic elements such as meta lenses. A desktop NIL tool for easy replication of micro- and nanoscale structures together with an tailored starter kit of NIL materials facilitates non-standard processes and new experiments as well as mature and advanced development for the replication of micro- and nanostructures from masters to substrates, both thermal replication and UV replication.
Date: 23 February 2022
Expert: Dr. Kristian Smistrup, Dr. Manuel Thesen

Functional Materials for the Next Generation of Microfluidics
The use of microfluidic devices is an ever growing market and already before the corona crisis point-of-care (PoC)-systems have been used extensively, for instance for the use in blood sugar testing, or the screening of pathogens. The multitude of applications for microfluidic systems, from drug screening to cell assays, to polymer synthesis show the diversity of the platform and the different requirements that are demanded for the materials to fulfill when used. While traditionally these systems are fabricated using standard thermoplastic materials via injection molding, alternative nano and micropatterning techniques offer the possibility to tailor function of the materials and devices with new features. In the webinar, we will give a brief introduction in the different fabrication methods and materials and show application examples using both thermal and UV-NIL materials as well as our proprietary Si containing Hybrid Polymers for UV molding.
Date: January 2022
Expert: Dr. Mirko Lohse

2D or not 2D: do not resist lithography
For our last webinar for 2021 in December we were able to win a special guest speaker and a company friend from Paul Scherrer Institut (PSI, Switzerland). He will take us on a journey through the exciting world of micro- and nanolithography. In doing so, he will converge a large number of processes and technologies that enable innovative applications thanks to tailor-made materials.
Date: December 2021
Expert: Dr. Helmut Schift, PSI Switzerland

Additive Manufacturing (Part 2): 3D Direct Laser Writing based on two-photon polymerization (TPP)
The applicability of photoresist and photopolymers is not limited to standard optical lithography processes only. The availability of tailored UV-curable polymers is also crucial to enable novel additive manufacturing methods when UV-curing step is employed during the patterning process. The emerging technology of additive manufacturing has great potential for rapid prototyping and for the fabrication of true 3D architectures at micrometer scale.

In two consecutive webinars (Part 1 & 2), we report on our contribution to additive manufacturing. In Part 1 (October) we reviewed the outcome of two recent R&D projects on material and process innovations in additive manufacturing of 3D printed polymeric micro-optical and microfluidic components. Now in Part 2 (November) we will focus on material and equipment innovations for 3D Direct Laser Writing based on two-photon polymerization (TPP) together with our partner company Multiphoton Optics GmbH.
Date: November 2021
Expert: Dr. Jonas Wiedenmann, Dr. Maria Russew

Additive Manufacturing (Part 1): Material and Process Innovations
The applicability of photoresist and photopolymers is not limited to standard optical lithography processes only. The availability of tailored UV-curable polymers is also crucial to enable novel additive manufacturing methods when UV-curing step is employed during the patterning process. The emerging technology of additive manufacturing has great potential for rapid prototyping and for the fabrication of true 3D architectures at micrometer scale.
In two consecutive webinars (Part 1 & 2), we will report on our contribution to additive manufacturing. Part 1 (October) will review the outcome of two recent R&D projects on material and process innovations in additive manufacturing of 3D printed polymeric micro-optical and microfluidic components. Part 2 (November) will focus on material and equipment innovations for 3D Direct Laser Writing based on two-photon polymerization (TPP).
Date: October 2021
Expert: Dr. Martin Herder, Johannes Wolf

Innovative Chemical Solutions offered by Kayaku Advanced Materials, Inc.
We will expand our expert base and host the first webinar in cooperation with our US-based partner company Kayaku Advanced Materials Inc. – formerly known as MicroChem Corp. (MCC). A broad range of resist and ancillary products will be introduced which meet almost any applications need, including products such as PMGI and LOR bi-layer, lift-off resists, SU-8 and KMPR® epoxy resists for various sacrificial and permanent imaging applications and PMMA resists for e-beam processing.
Date: September, 2021
Expert: Aurelie Mayeux (Kayaku Advanced Materials)

Application engineering and lithography services @ micro resist technology
During the summer webinar we focused on our in-house research and development capabilities for technology driven projects. It was shown how multiple innovative materials and converging technologies such as nano imprinting, UV molding and UV lithography enable to fabricate complex micro-optical pattern and components. Additionally, we highlighted how our state-of-the-art lithography services empower researchers all over the world in microfluidics.
Date: August, 2021
Expert: Johannes Wolf

Versatile product portfolio of materials for Nanoimprint Lithography (NIL)
We will review MRT's versatile product portfolio for Nanoimprint Lithography (NIL) and enlighten the broad technological background of different NIL material developments. Furthermore, we will accentuate products with their most recent application highlights. Besides pattern transfer processes we will also comment on devices where the imprint materials are used as nanostructured thin films and for metal patterning on nanoscale.
Date: July, 2021
Expert: Dr. Manuel Thesen

Positive resists for standard UV-, greyscale- laser interference- and e-beam lithography
This webinar gives an overview of the positive resists offered by MRT, and their different applications in high resolution lithography as well as thick film technology. In particular, we will highlight our positive photoresists designed for greyscale lithography in the fabrication of complex 3D microstructures. Additionally, further examples of standard UV lithography and even laser interference lithography with these greyscale photoresists will be shown.
Date: June, 2021
Expert: Dr. Christine Schuster

Hybrid Polymers: UV-curable optical polymers for permanent micro-optical and photonic components
In our second webinar, we will highlight our innovative hybrid polymers as advanced high performance optical materials. Due to their tailored composition and unique set of material properties our hybrid polymers meet the requirements of both the optical performance and reliability as well as the state-of-the-art patterning techniques for industrial large-scale productions of micro-optical and photonic components.
Date: May, 2021
Expert: Dr. Jan Jasper Klein

Negative Resists for Mask Aligner, Stepper, E-beam and Laser Lithography
In this first webinar we gave an overview about negative resists MRT is offering and some interesting applications showing/ demonstrating the generation of real 3D patterns at micro and nanoscale. Mix-and-Match approaches were presented in conclusion where processes are smartly combined with each other allowing completely novel additive manufacturing schemes.
Date: April, 2021
Expert: Dr. Anja Voigt