Test structures for the characterisation of conductive carbon produced from photoresist

Abstract

Conductive carbon films are highly attractive for use as electrodes in electrochemistry and biosensing applications. Patterned photoresist films can be transformed into carbon electrodes using standard photolithographic techniques followed by pyrolysation of the photoresist in a furnace under a reducing atmosphere. Previous studies have been made of the electrical properties of blanket carbon films created using this method of fabrication. However, there is a need to investigate pattern dependent effects, particularly the extent to which the dimensions of the patterned films shrink during the high temperature processing. This study applies microfabricated test structures to the process characterisation of conductive carbon produced from standard positive photoresists.