Zero-mode waveguides (ZMWs) are nanostructures that drastically reduce the effective optical observation volume beyond the diffraction limit, thereby permitting the use of higher concentrations of fluorescently tagged molecules for single-molecule studies. This work presents the fabrication technology of quartz plasma etching to create tapered sidewalls for the application in ZMWs, utilizing an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) reactive ion etching tool. This method involves a meticulously designed two-step etching process to achieve quartz cavities with a minimum sidewall angle of approximately 60 deg. Initially, the process involves altering the photoresist pattern from a vertical to a tapered form, facilitated by the use of |
Etching
Quartz
Photoresist materials
Fabrication
Argon
Plasma
Scanning electron microscopy