Nanotemplate Arbitrary-Imprint Lithography (NAIL)

In a method for imprinting a layer of material, a nanotemplate is impressed into a material layer, and the nanotemplate is maintained impressed in the material layer until a geometric trench corresponding to geometry of the nanotemplate is formed in the layer, and the nanotemplate is then removed from the material layer. A nanotemplate geometric trench is repeatedly formed in the material layer by nanotemplate impressions in the layer, until a final desired imprint pattern is produced in the layer. Each nanotemplate geometric trench is characterized by an extent that is a fraction of an extent of the final desired imprint pattern. The material layer is maintained in a condition for accepting nanotemplate impressions continuously throughout the nanotemplate impression repetition.