Nanoprocesses can be broadly categorized into two main approaches: Top-down and Bottom-up.
Top-down Approach
In the top-down approach, larger structures are reduced to the nanoscale. This is often done through techniques like lithography, etching, and milling. For example, in photolithography, light is used to transfer patterns onto a substrate, which is then etched to create nanoscale features.
Bottom-up Approach
The bottom-up approach involves building structures atom by atom or molecule by molecule. Techniques such as self-assembly and chemical vapor deposition (CVD) are commonly used. In self-assembly, molecules autonomously organize into structured arrangements due to specific, local interactions among the molecules themselves.
