Residual-free imprint for sensor definition

For the preparation of interdigitated sensor devices with nanometre sized electrodes a low-cost route is followed. The central technique used for electrode definition is nanoimprint. To imprint the larger contact areas as easy as the electrodes, the contacts are broken down into a grid. In order to end up with a highly uniform residual layer the concept of 'partial cavity filling' is utilised, resulting in an almost negligible layer thickness. The metallic electrodes are defined by sputtering and lift-off directly after imprint, where a previous etching of the residual layer is not required. The results show that the concept works. With this strategy, preparation of an interdigitated sensor requires nothing but spin-coating, nanoimprinting and sputtering/lift-off.