A pattern having exceptionally small features is printed on a partially
fabricated integrated circuit during integrated circuit fabrication. The
pattern is printed using an array of probes, each probe having: 1) a
photocatalytic nanodot at its tip; and 2) an individually controlled
light source. The surface of the partially fabricated integrated circuit
comprises a photochemically active species. The active species undergoes
a chemical change when contacted by the nanodot, when the nanodot is
illuminated by light. To print a pattern, each probe raster-scans its
associated nanodot across the surface of the partially fabricated
integrated circuit. When the nanodot reaches a desired location, the
nanodot is illuminated by the light source, catalyzing a change in the
reactive species and, thus, printing at that location. Subsequently,
reacted or unreacted species are selectively removed, thereby forming a
mask pattern over the partially fabricated integrated circuit. The
minimum size of the features in the pattern is determined by the size of
the nanodot and can be very small, e.g., having critical dimensions of
about 20 nm or less.