Francis specialises in developing photolithographic materials through hybrid thin films and block copolymer self-assembly
Francis's research focuses on understanding the underlying chemistry and development of novel polymers for use in Sequential Infiltration Synthesis (SIS), a recent film-hardening technique. SIS enhances the etch resistance of polymeric thin films by diffusing organometallic precursors into the polymer-free volume. This increased etch resistance improves the transfer of sub-10 nm patterns produced by photolithography into the underlying wafer, thus enabling smaller integrated circuits. Additionally, Francis investigates the incorporation of polymers optimised for SIS into block copolymers for directed self-assembly of nanopatterns, which can serve as templates for constructing inorganic 3D structures in microelectronics.
Francis earned his Bachelor of Biotechnology with a Major in Nanotechnology in 2019, graduating with first-class honours from the University of Queensland. His honours research focused on the design and synthesis of high χ galactose-based block copolymers aimed at advancing materials for nanolithography. In 2020, he began his doctoral studies at the Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) as part of the Whittaker Group. Francis's current PhD research centers on developing novel polymers optimised for Sequential Infiltration Synthesis (SIS).
Key Publications
McCallum, F. J.; Zhao, J.; Hossain, M. D.; Kaitz, J. A.; Cameron, J. F.; Trefonas, P., III; Blakey, I.; Peng, H.; Whittaker, A. K. Galactose-based Block Copolymers with Switchable χ Parameters for Tuning Phase Separated Morphology. Macromolecules 2023, 56 (7), 2651-2662. DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c02382.
Zhao, J.; McCallum, F. J.; Yu, Y.; Fu, C.; Kaitz, J. A.; Cameron, J. F.; Trefonas, P.; Blakey, I.; Peng, H.; Whittaker, A. K. Photo-directing chemoepitaxy: the versatility of poly(aryl methacrylate) films in tuning block copolymer wetting. Polym. Chem. 2021, 12 (21), 3201-3209. DOI: 10.1039/D1PY00501D.
Zhao, J.; Er, G. T. K.; McCallum, F. J.; Wang, S.; Fu, C.; Kaitz, J. A.; Cameron, J. F.; Trefonas, P., III; Blakey, I.; Peng, H.; et al. Photo/Thermal Dual Responses in Aqueous-Soluble Copolymers Containing 1-Naphthyl Methacrylate. Macromolecules 2021, 54 (10), 4860-4870. DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.1c00297.
McCallum, F. J.; Zhao, J.; Hossain, M. D.; Kaitz, J. A.; Cameron, J. F.; Trefonas, P., III; Blakey, I.; Peng, H.; Whittaker, A. K. Fundamental studies of interactions between polymer substrate and precursor in sequential infiltration synthesis. In Proc. SPIE, 2023; Vol. 12498, p 124980U. DOI: 10.1117/12.2655986.
Zhao, J.; McCallum, F. J.; Jiang, Z.; Kaitz, J. A.; Cameron, J. F.; Trefonas, P.; Blakey, I.; Peng, H.; Whittaker, A. K. Spatial arrangement of block copolymer nanopatterns using photoactive homopolymer substrates. In Proc. SPIE, 2021; Vol. 11612. DOI: 10.1117/12.2586516.