soft lithography

Soft lithography is a family of techniques for fabricating microstructures using flexible polymer stamps rather than rigid materials.

Unlike traditional photolithography, which etches patterns into silicon with light and chemicals, soft lithography presses or molds elastomeric materials—typically silicone—to transfer patterns onto surfaces.

The technique enables cheaper, faster production of microfluidic devices, biosensors, and flexible electronics: The lab used soft lithography to create channels for cell culture experiments.