Nanoimprint Lithography

An anonymous submitter writes "According to BBC News, researchers at Princeton have developed a die-stamp method for chip fabs. The Princeton site claims they've got to 10nm already. The professor in charge has told BBC News Online that they're '20 years ahead of Moore's Law.' Dubious claims aside, it looks like a handy way to bring down prices even if it doesn't improve ultimate top speed."

Comments

10 nm != .1 micron

[GreenPhreak]

10 nm == .01 microns last time I looked.

1 nm = 1e-9 m
1 micron = 1e-6 m

But how do you make the mold?

[joshv]

This sounds great, but how do they make the mold, what kind of wear and tear is the mold subject to? My guess is that one of these 'nano-imprint' molds is not going to last all that long.

I am assuming they are relying on something like electron beam lithography to create the imprint mold, certainly this would be a cost/time improvement over direct e-beam litho, but it all depends on longevity of the molds.

-josh

Re:Moore's Law

[Reality Master 101]

Actually, you and the CNet link you posted have it wrong, also. Moore predicted transistor density would double, not the number of transistors on a Microprocessor. Here's the reference from the man himself.

Environmentally friendly!

[pokeyburro]

Take note of that third section: no nasty chemicals, they claim. If their claim holds, a company using this tech could make a lot of political capital from it.

Natural questions arise: just how dirty is the current process? Will the details of the method really prove to be as clean as they say?

10 nm = 4.97 e-11 furlongs

[elsegundo]

If it helps...