High-Resolution Van der Waals Stencil Lithography for 2D Transistors

2D semiconductors have attracted tremendous attention as an atomically thin channel for transistors with superior immunity to short-channel effects. However, with atomic thin structure, the delicate 2D lattice is not fully compatible with conventional lithography processes that typically involve high-energy photon/electron radiation and unavoidable polymer residues, posing a key limitation for high performance 2D transistors. Here, a novel van der Waals (vdW) stencil lithography technique based on dry mask lamination process is developed. By pre-fabricating polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) resist with designed patterns, the whole PMMA mask layers could be mechanically released from the sacrifice wafer and physically laminated on top of various 2D semiconductors. The vdW stencil lithography ensures pristine 2D surface without any high-energy electron/photon radiation, polymer residues, or chemical doping effects in conventional lithography process; and the soft nature of PMMA enables intimate contact between the mask and the 2D materials without physical gap, leading to ultra-high resolution down to 60 nm. Together, by applying vdW stencil lithography for 2D semiconductors, high performance transistors are demonstrated. Our method not only demonstrates improved 2D transistor performance without lithography induced damages, but also provides a new vdW stencil lithography technique for 2D materials with high resolution.

Automated summary

The novel van der Waals (vdW) stencil lithography technique developed in this study allows for the fabrication of high performance transistors on 2D semiconductors without inducing damage, and provides a new high resolution lithography technique for 2D materials.