_ETH Zurich researchers have developed light-emitting OLED polymers that can survive photolithography, potentially allowing tiny pixels to be patterned with chipmaking precision. The breakthrough could pave the way for ultra-small, high-resol..._

Researchers have developed light-emitting polymers that also serve as photoresists and can be precisely patterned using photolithography - an established process in the chip industry. This enables the production of tiny, coloured OLED pixels for screens, as well as precise light sources for research and medical technology.

The Photolithography market is projected to grow from USD Billion 10.85 in 2024 to USD Billion 33.07 by 2035, at a CAGR of 10.66% during 2025-2035.

Deep-foam photolithography uses light-controlled polymer foaming to create high-resolution, multifunctional microstructures with tunable optical, wetting and fluid-handling properties for advanced man...

Deep-foam photolithography uses light-controlled polymer foaming to create high-resolution, multifunctional microstructures with tunable optical, wetting and fluid-handling properties for advanced manufacturing applications.

YouTube video by Veritasium

Extended Data Fig. 1 Formation of Deepfoam Photolithography (DFP) structures in the absence and presence of photoinitiator. a, A near-surface foam was formed in the absence of photoinitiator. A 192-kDa polystyrene (PS) film with a thickness of 6.1 μm was prepared by spin-casting a solution that does not contain any photoinitiator. The film was illuminated using UV 254 nm (CX-2000 UVP) for 2 h. Foaming is limited to a few microns in depth even with prolonged development in 32 °C acetic acid. b, DFP can generate foaming deep within the polymer film in the presence of photoinitiator. A 192-kDa PS film with a thickness of 120 μm was prepared by casting a solution that contains 5 wt% thioxanthone relative to the PS. The film was illuminated using a custom LED chamber (Thorlabs, λi: 385 nm) with an energy dosage of 3000 J cm−2. Then, the film was developed in 32 °C acetic acid for 2 h. The SEM cross-section of the developed film demonstrated foaming over hundreds of micrometres in depth for a film containing a photoinitiator. Scale bar is 10 μm in the primary panels and 1 μm in the zoom-in panels. Extended Data Fig. 2 DFP film growth...

Kyoto University's deep foam photolithography makes white out of air instead of titanium dioxide, prints it at about 20,000 dpi and repels water without PFAS. Why the timing is European, and what Japan tried before.

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10968-9Deep-foam photolithography uses light-controlled polymer foaming to create high-resolution, multifunctional microstructures with tunable optical, wetting and fluid-handling properties for advanced manufacturing applications.

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10968-9 Deep-foam photolithography uses light-controlled polymer foaming to create high-resolution, multifunctional microstructures with tunable optical, wetting and fluid-handling properties for advanced manufacturing applications.

Nature, Published online: 09 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-10968-9Deep-foam photolithography uses light-controlled polymer foaming to create high-resolution, multifunctional microstructures with tunable optical, wetting and fluid-handling properties for advanced manufacturing applications.

The Photolithography market is projected to grow from USD Billion 10.85 in 2024 to USD Billion 33.07 by 2035, at a CAGR of 10.66% during 2025-2035.