Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market Size & Forecast

01 Sep.,2025

 

Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market Size & Forecast

Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market Size and Forecast

Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market size was valued at USD 3.71 Billion in and is projected to reach USD 5.91 Billion by , growing at a CAGR of 6% from to .

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  • A photoresist is a light-sensitive substance used in photolithography to create patterns on semiconductor wafers. When exposed to ultraviolet light, it exhibits chemical changes that allow for selective surface etching. Photoresists are essential for the precise manufacture of microchips and printed circuit boards.
  • Photoresists are utilized in semiconductor production, flat-panel displays, solar cells, and printed circuit boards. They are required for procedures such as photo masking, which transfers patterns onto materials for integrated circuit manufacturing. Their precision enables high-performance electronics and devices across a wide range of industries, including telecommunications and automobiles.
  • Improving resolution and sensitivity for sophisticated semiconductor nodes less than 3 nm is key to the future of photoresists. Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is the main area of development for quicker and more effective microchip manufacturing. Additionally, photoresists are being investigated for use in quantum computing, nanotechnology, and sustainable energy sources including sophisticated solar cell production.

Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market Dynamics

The key market dynamics that are shaping the Global photoresist & photoresist ancillaries market include:

Key Market Drivers:

  • Developments in Semiconductor Manufacturing Technology: The need for better photoresists is growing as semiconductor manufacturing advances, particularly with EUV lithography for lower nodes. For instance, TSMC's 3nm chips by will require precise photolithography, which will drive the demand for high-performance photoresist materials that are necessary for the fabrication of sophisticated circuits.
  • Electric vehicles' (EVs') rise: The need for semiconductors is being driven by the global trend toward electric cars, or EVs. By , 30 Million EVs are anticipated to be produced yearly, necessitating the use of sophisticated photoresists in semiconductor components. Around 2,000 semiconductor chips are found in EVs on average, which increases the demand for effective photoresist materials in chip manufacturing.
  • The expansion of 5G infrastructure: Advanced semiconductor chips are in high demand due to the global rollout of 5G networks. The need for photoresists utilized in the production of next-generation 5G-enabled chips and devices is expected to rise as 1.8 Billion 5G subscriptions are anticipated by , increasing the requirement for accurate lithography and premium photoresists.
  • Enhanced Attention to Eco-Friendly Electronics Production: Demand for environmentally friendly photoresist solutions is driven by the green electronics market, which is expected to increase at a 9.4% CAGR from $40.68 Billion in to $75.31 Billion by . Manufacturers are compelled to look for sustainable substitutes for traditional photoresists due to stricter environmental laws and the requirement for fewer harmful ingredients.

Key Challenges:

  • Limitation of Resolution: Current photoresists struggle to achieve sub-5 nm precision, despite the growing demand for finer resolution in semiconductor fabrication. This restricts the progress of smaller nodes.
  • Complexity of the Process: Development and etching are two intricate processes in photoresist processing that can lead to flaws and lower yield.
  • Sensitivity to Material: For higher resolution, modern photoresists need to be more sensitive to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) light, however this can't be done without sacrificing stability.
  • Environmental Issues: Numerous photoresist materials include hazardous compounds that are harmful to the environment and human health. Environmentally friendly substitutes are becoming increasingly important as global rules become more stringent.

Key Trends:

  • Adoption of EUV Lithography: Because technology makes finer semiconductor nodes like 3 nm and beyond possible, EUV lithography is becoming more and more popular worldwide; by , the market is projected to be worth $7.7 Billion.
  • Focus on Sustainability: Producers are moving toward less hazardous, sustainable photoresist compositions. By , the eco-friendly market is expected to expand by 12% a year.
  • Integration of Nanotechnology: In order to create nanostructures and support sectors like biotechnology and healthcare, photoresists are being used more and more in nanotechnology. It is anticipated that this tendency will expand by 8% a year.
  • Development of Advanced Materials: The study of new photoresist materials is accelerating, including hybrid and organic polymer-based materials. By , the materials market is expected to expand at a rate of 6% per year.

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Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market Regional Analysis

Here is a more detailed regional analysis of the global photoresist & photoresist ancillaries market include:

Asia-Pacific

  • Asia-Pacific is one of the dominating region in the Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market driven by China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, the world's leading producers of semiconductors. China's semiconductor market is predicted to reach $180 Billion by , while South Korea's semiconductor exports reached $135 Billion in , making up almost 20% of total exports. Strong and ongoing need for high-performance photoresist materials in semiconductor production is ensured by the region's cutting-edge fabs and major firms like TSMC and Samsung.

North America

  • North America is emerging as the fastest growing region in the Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market. With a projected value of $300 Billion in , the U.S. semiconductor industry is the main driver of the photoresist market's quickest growth in North America. This expansion is being driven by the CHIPS Act, which provides $52 Billion to encourage domestic semiconductor manufacturing. Companies like Intel and Micron are investing more in the U.S. with a focus on cutting-edge technologies like 5G and AI, which is driving demand for high-quality photoresists to satisfy the needs of next-generation semiconductor devices.

Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market: Segmentation Analysis

The Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market is segmented into By Type, By End-User, By Application, and By Geography.

Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market, By Type

  • Positive
  • Negative
  • Dry Film Photoresist

Based on Type, the Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market is segmented into Positive, Negative, Dry Film Photoresist. Positive photoresists dominate as they are widely used in semiconductor manufacturing, giving excellent resolution for fine patterning at smaller nodes, which is required for current chip fabrication. Negative photoresists are growing due to their advantages in applications such as mems and 3D packaging, where they provide greater resolution and improved etch resistance.

Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market, By End-User

  • Semiconductors
  • Printed Circuit Boards
  • Displays

Based on End-User, the Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market is segmented into Semiconductors, Printed Circuit Boards, Displays. Semiconductors dominate the market, driven by rising demand for improved chips in electronics, 5G, and AI, which necessitate high-performance photoresists for precision lithography. Printed circuit boards (PCBs) are the fastest-growing segment, owing to rising demand in the consumer electronics and automotive industries, where sophisticated photoresists are essential for high-performance boards.

Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market, By Application

  • Photolithography
  • Solder Mask
  • Etching

Based on Application, the Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market is segmented into Photolithography, Solder Mask, Etching. Photolithography dominates due to its importance in semiconductor manufacturing, where high-resolution photoresists are required to create detailed circuit designs on silicon wafers. Solder mask applications are quickly expanding, driven by rising demand for PCB fabrication, where accurate photoresists protect components during soldering and improve board performance.

Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market, By Geography

  • Asia-Pacific
  • North America

Based on Geography, the Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market is segmented into Asia-Pacific and North America. Asia-Pacific is one of the dominating region in the Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market driven by China, Japan, Taiwan, and South Korea, the world's leading producers of semiconductors. North America is emerging as the fastest growing region in the Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market. With a projected value of $300 Billion in , the U.S. semiconductor industry is the main driver of the photoresist market's quickest growth in North America.

Key Players

The “Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market” study report will provide valuable insight with an emphasis on the global market. The major players in the market are JSR Corporation, Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co, Ltd., Shin Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Chemical Co., Limited., DuPont, Merck Group, Shintech, LG Chem, Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics.

Our market analysis also entails a section solely dedicated to such major players wherein our analysts provide an insight into the financial statements of all the major players, along with its product benchmarking and SWOT analysis. The competitive landscape section also includes key development strategies, market share, and market ranking analysis of the above-mentioned players.

Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market: Recent Developments

  • In January , JSR Corporation announced plans to increase production of next-generation photoresist materials in response to growing demand from semiconductor manufacturers using extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography.
  • In December , Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co. (TOK) introduced a new line of photoresist ancillaries, with the goal of increasing semiconductor production yield and efficiency at advanced 5nm and lower process nodes.
  • In November , Shin-Etsu Chemical revealed revolutionary photoresist solutions to satisfy the 5G semiconductor market's particular needs, with a focus on precision and high resolution in lithography.
  • In October , Sumitomo Chemical released an eco-friendly photoresist compound, demonstrating its commitment to semiconductor industry sustainability by reducing chemical waste and complying with worldwide environmental standards.

Report Scope

REPORT ATTRIBUTESDETAILSHistorical YearBase YearEstimated YearProjected Years–Key Companies ProfiledJSR Corporation, Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co, Ltd., Shin Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Chemical Co., Limited., DuPont, Merck Group, Shintech, LG Chem, Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics.UnitsValue in USD BillionSegments CoveredBy Type, By End-User, By Application, and By GeographyCustomization ScopeFree report customization (equivalent to up to 4 analyst working days) with purchase. Addition or alteration to country, regional & segment scope.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market size was valued at USD 3.71 Billion in and is projected to reach USD 5.91 Billion by , growing at a CAGR of 6% from to . The Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market is driven by surging semiconductor demand, advanced lithography innovation, rapid device miniaturization, process control, and strong R&D investments.         The major players in the market are JSR Corporation, Tokyo Ohka Kogyo Co, Ltd., Shin Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Chemical Co., Limited., DuPont, Merck Group, Shintech, LG Chem, Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group Co., Ltd., Samsung Electronics. The Global Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market is segmented into By Type, By End-User, By Application, and By Geography. The sample report for the Photoresist & Photoresist Ancillaries Market can be obtained on demand from the website. Also, the 24*7 chat support & direct call services are provided to procure the sample report.

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FAQs – Microresist

HF etching is a very demanding. HF doesn´t attack the resist. But it can diffuse under the photoresist and lift it from below causing bad adhesion of the resist on the substrate. This is why a film thickness as high as possible should be chosen, and the resist should be hardened (stronger prebake + hardbake). Nevertheless it depends strongly on the HF concentration and the etch time to what extend the photoresist sustains the etching.
In the literature it is mentioned that ma-P is suitable for etching with buffered HF [*]. 

[*] A. Pozzato, S. Dal Zilio, G. Fois, D. Vendramin, G. Mistura, M. Belotti, Y. Chen, M. Natali, Microelectronic Eng. 83 (), 884-888, doi:10./j.mee..01.012

For lift-off processes a bi-layer resist system can be applied. E.g. LOR (a not photosensitive polymer provided by MicroChem Corp. for various film thicknesses) can be used as bottom layer. In a second step a positive resist e.g. from the ma-P series is applied as top layer. During the aqueous-alkaline development of the exposed areas of the positive resist film also the LOR film underneath is dissolved. The undercut profile in the bottom layer is adjusted by varying the development time and the prebake conditions for the LOR layer.
For some applications you can do the lift-off with a single-layer resist which does not give an undercut profile. E.g. the use of ma-P resist without an additional bottom layer would be sufficient – preferably with a somewhat higher film thickness to give sidewalls that can be reached by the stripper. The quality of the edges of the deposited metal layer is slightly worse than in a bi-layer process in this case.

[1]   W. Schrott, M. Svoboda, Z. Slouka, D. Šnita, Metal electrodes in plastic microfluidic systems, Microelectronic Engineering, 86 (), -; 
doi: 10./j.mee..01.001
ma-P  is used as mould for electroplating Au and Cu structures to be used in plastic microfluidic systems.

[2]   P.W. Leech, G.K. Reeves, A.S. Holland, Reactive ion etching of TiN, TiAlN, CrN and TiCN Films in CF4/O2 and CHF3/O2 Plasmas, Mater. Res. Soc. Symp. Proc. 890 (), -Y08-13.1-6;doi: 10./PROC--Y08-13
ma-P  is used as etch mask for plasma etching in the manufacture of stamps for imprint lithography.

[3]   G. Kaltsas, A. Petropoulos, K. Tsougeni, D. N. Pagonis, T. Speliotis, E. Gogolides, A. G. Nassiopoulou, A novel microfabrication technology on organic substrates – Application to a thermal flow sensor, Journal of Physics: Conference Series 92 () ; doi:10./-/92/1/
ma-P  is used in a lift-off process with Pt deposition in the manufacture of a thermal flow sensor.

[4]   J.-C. Galas, D. Bartolo, V. Studer, Active connectors for microfluidic drops on demand, New J. Phys. 11 () ; 
doi:10./-/11/7/
After reflow ma-P HV is used as mask for moulding PDMS in the fabrication of active microfluidic connectors.

For the lithographic processing of the single layer resist systems ma-N 400 and ma-N less processing steps are necessary than for the bilayer system. The thermal stability of the ma-N is higher than that of the ma-N 400 series and of the bilayer system. In general, the resolution of both systems, the single layer and the bilayer system is comparable, but the resolution of the bilayer system can be slightly better. 

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For clean lift-off processing, the resist film thickness should be 1.5 to 2 times that of the metal layer to be deposited.

In general the resists exhibit a good etch resistance.
The series gave good results in dry etching (e.g. with CF4 or high dry density SF6/ O2 plasma). The etch rates of the resists strongly depend on the etching conditions. The etching equipment has an influence, the amount of open wafer surface to be etched, the etch gas composition and all other parameters such as pressure, temperature or voltage.

If required, the etch resistance and thermal stability of the resist can be increased by applying a higher prebake temperature or a longer prebake time. The developing time will increase in this case. Hardbaking of the developed resist patterns is also recommended for an increase of the etch resistance and the thermals stability.

In general the etch selectivity can be assume for the most etch applications as 1 to 1.

We cannot deliver any more detailed data. This is nearly impossible since etching conditions can differ very much from lab to lab. 

HF etching is a bit demanding. HF doesn´t attack the resist. But it can diffuse through and under the photoresist and lift it from below causing bad adhesion of the resist on the substrate. This is why a film thickness as high as possible should be chosen, and the resist should be hardened (stronger prebake + hardbake). Nevertheless it depends strongly on the HF concentration and the etch time how acceptably the photoresist sustains the etching.

There are some recommendations to avoid or reduce the electrostatic charging during e-beam exposure on insulating substrates.
1: Deposition of a thin metal layer as top coat layer: 
Coat a thin metal layer (e.g. Al or Cr, ~ 10 – 20 nm) on top of the resist layer. The thin metal layer has to be removed after exposure and prior development. 
In the case when using ma-N resist, the developer is aqueous alkaline based and the thin Al layer (which is soluble in weak alkaline solutions) is dissolved or removed during development step.             
Thin Cr layer can be removed using e.g. Chrome Etch 18 solution. 
2: Coat of a thin conductive layer. 

[Ji] J. Ji et al “High-Throughput Nanohole Array Based System to Monitor Multiple Binding Events in Real Time” Anal. Chem. 80 () -

[Mohamed_1] K. Mohamed et al “Surface charging suppression using PEDOT/PSS in the fabrication of three dimensional structures on a quartz substrate” Microelectronic Engineering Vol. 86 () 535 – 538”

ma-N : 
[Bilenberg] B. Bilenberg, M. Schøler, P. Shi, M. S. Schmidt, P. Bøggild, M. Fink, C. Schuster, F. Reuther, C. Gruetzner, A. Kristensen „Comparison of high resolution negative electron beam resists” J. Vac. Sci. Technol. B 24(4) ()

[Blideran] M.M. Blideran, M. Häffner, B.-E. Schuster, C. Raisch, H. Weigand, M. Fleischer, H. Peisert, T. Chassé, D.P. Kern „Improving etch selectivity and stability of novolak based negative resists by fluorine plasma treatment” Microelectronic Engineering 86 () 769–772

[Cardenas] J. Cardenas, C. B. Poitras, J. T. Robinson, K. Preston, L. Chen, M. Lipson “Low loss etchless silicon photonic waveguides” Optics Express Vol. 17, No 6 ()

[Chen] S. C. Chen, Y. C. Lin, J. C. Wu, L. Horng, C. H. Cheng „Parameter optimization for an ICP deep silicon etching system” Microsyst Technol () 13: 465–474

[Elsner_1] H. Elsner, H.-G. Meyer, A. Voigt, G. Gruetzner “Evaluation of the ma-N series DUV photoresists for the electron beam exposure“ Microelectron. Eng. 46 (), 389–392

[Elsner_2] H. Elsner, H.-G. Meyer “Nanometer and high aspect ratio patterning by electron beam lithography using simply DUV negative tone resists” Microelectronic Engineering Vol. 57-58 (), 291 – 296

[Gondarenko] A. Gondarenko, J. S. Levy, M. Lipson “High confinement micron-scale silicon nitride high Q ring resonator” Optics Express Vol. 17, No. 14 ()

[Konijn] M. Konijn, M.M. Alkaisi , R.J. Blaikie “Nanoimprint lithography of sub-100 nm 3D structures” Microelectronic Engineering 78–79 () 653–658

[Mohamed_2] K. Mohamed, M. M. Alkaisi, R. J. Blaikie “A Three-Dimensional Ultraviolet Curable Nanoimprint Lithography (3D UV-NIL)” American Institute of Physics (AIP) Conf. Proc. , () 114

[Verhagen] E. Verhagen, A. Polman, L. (Kobus) Kuipers “Nanofocusing in laterally tapered plasmonic waveguides” Optics Express Vol. 16, No. 1 () 45

[Voigt_1] A. Voigt, H. Elsner, H.-G. Meyer, G. Gruetzner “Nanometer patterning using ma-N series DUV negative photoresist and electron beam lithography“ Proc. SPIE () 485–491

[Yu] Q. Yu, S. Braswell, B. Christin, J. Xu, P. M. Wallace, H. Gong, D. Kaminsky “Surface-enhanced Raman scattering on gold quasi-3D nanostructure and 2D nanohole arrays” Nanotechnology 21 () (9pp)

ma-N 400/ ma-N :
[Voigt_2] A. Voigt, G. Gruetzner, E. Sauer, S. Helm, T. Harder, S. Fehlberg, J. Bendig „A series of AZ-compatible negative photoresists“ Proc. SPIE () 413–420

[Voigt_3] A. Voigt, M. Heinrich, K. Hauck, R. Mientus, G. Gruetzner, M. Töpper, O. Ehrmann „A Single Layer Negative Tone Lift-Off Photo Resist for Patterning a Magnetron Sputtered Ti/Pt/Au Contact System and for Solder Bumps“ Microelectron. Eng. 78 – 79 () 503 – 508

ma-N :
[Goeppl] M. Goeppl, A. Fragner, M. Baur, R. Bianchetti, S. Filipp, J. M. Fink, P. J. Leek, G. Puebla, L. Steffen, A. Wallraff „Coplanar Waveguide Resonators for Circuit Quantum Electrodynamics” J. Appl. Phys. 104, ()

[Lysko] J. M. Lysko, B. Latecki, M. Nikodem „Gas micro-fow-metering with the in-channel Pt resistors” J. of Telecommunications & Information Technology () 98

ma-N 400:
[Figi] H. Figi, M. Jazbinsek, C. Hunziker, M. Koechlin, P. Guenter „Electro-optic single-crystalline organic waveguides and nanowires grown from the melt” Optics Express Vol. 16, No. 15 ()

[Guo] H.C. Guo, D. Nau, A. Radke, X.P. Zhang, J. Stodolka, X.L. Yang, S.G. Tikhodeev, N.A. Gippius, H. Giessen “Large-area metallic photonic crystal fabrication with interference lithography and dry etching” Appl. Phys. B 81 () 271–275

Epocore/ Epoclad:
[Ceyssens] F. Ceyssens, M. Driesen, K. Wouters, R. Puers, K.U. Leuven „A low-cost and highly integrated fiber optical pressure sensor system” Sensors and Actuators A 145–146 () 81–86

[DeDockera] H.W.J.A. De Doncker, T. Guan, M. Driesen, R. Puers “Biaxial and Uniaxial Epoxy Accelerometers” Procedia Chemistry 1 () 572–575

[Driesen] M. Driesen, K. Wouters, R. Puers „Etch rate optimization in reactive ion etching of epoxy photoresists” Procedia Chemistry 1 () 796–799

[Gijsenbergh] P. Gijsenbergh, K. Wouters, K. Vanstreels, R. Puers “Determining the physical properties of EpoClad negative photoresist for use in MEMS applications” J. Micromech. Microeng. 21 () (6pp)

[Himmelhuber] R. Himmelhuber, M. Fink, K. Pfeiffer, U. Ostrzinski, A. Klukowska, G. Gruetzner, R. Houbertz, H. Wolter „Innovative materials tailored for advanced microoptic applications“ Proc- SPIE Vol. () 

[Wouters_1] K. Wouters, R. Puers “Determining the Young’s modulus and creep effects in three different photo definable epoxies for MEMS applications” Sensors and Actuators A 156 () 196–200

[Wouters_2] K. Wouters, H. De Doncker, R. Puers „Dynamic thermal mechanical characterization of Epoclad negative photoresist for micro mechanical structures” Microelectronic Engineering 87 () –

mr-DWL:
[Cadarso] V. J. Cadarso, K. Pfeiffer, U Ostrzinski, J. B. Bureau, G. A. Racine, A. Voigt, G. Gruetzner, J. Brugger “Direct writing laser of high aspect ratio epoxy microstructures” J. Micromech. Microeng. 21 () (6pp)

We strongly recommend to apply a release agent on the mould or stamp in order to generate a high adhesion contrast between mould or stamp and substrate. It is advisable to pre-treat the lithography mask, even if only a proximity lithography process is performed. The formed anti-sticking layer (ASL) prevents defects caused by sticking of the Hybrid Polymers on the mould/stamp. The most common release agent for silicon or silicon dioxide is “F13-TCS” (1H,1H,2H,2H-perfluorooctyl-trichlorosilane, CAS number [-45-9], available from common specialty chemicals suppliers).

The processing of F13-TCS for Si and SiO2 moulds is described in: S. Park, “Anti-adhesive layers on nickel stamps for nanoimprint lithography“, Microel. Eng. 73-74 (), 196-201; H. Schift et al., „Controlled co-evaporation of silanes for nanoimprint stamps“, Nanotechnology 16 (), 171-175.

OrmoClear®, OrmoCore and OrmoClad as well as many acrylic-based polymers form a so-called inhibition layer when exposed under ambient atmosphere. This is due to partial quenching of radical polymerization by oxygen which results in a 5–15 μm thick layer of uncured material on the surface (“inhibition layer”). It has to be washed away in a development step (e.g. with OrmoDev). However, OrmoComp®, OrmoClear®FX and OrmoStamp® are not sensitive to oxygen and do not form an inhibition layer.

When applying UV moulding or (nano)imprint with hard molds (e.g. Si-, SiO2-, Ni-molds) there is no formation of an inhibition layer. However, using PDMS-molds (acting as some kind of “oxygen sponge”) will result in the formation of an inhibition layer.

mr-NIL210 and mr-UVCur21 are UV-curable and liquid polymer systems for UV-based nanoimprint lithography. The spin-coated liquid films are cured by UV exposure at room temperature. There is no need for baking after the imprint step.

mr-NIL E is a curing resist for thermal nanoimprint lithography, which forms a solid film after spin coating and prebake. It exhibits a low glass transition temperature (Tg) of about 40 °C. Thus, it can be imprinted at temperatures as low as 80 – 100 °C. But this epoxy-based material has to be cured by UV exposure and baking (comparable to the post exposure bake of chemically amplified resists). Otherwise there would be a reflow of the imprinted patterns on subsequent annealing. Curing can beneficially be done during imprinting in the imprint tool (if the machine has an exposure unit).