Electrochemical process for fabricating article exhibiting substantial three-dimensional order and resultant article
US6409907B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 11, 1999 |
| Grant date | Jun 25, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 11, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB82Y20/00
- WIPO fieldMicro-structural and nano-technology
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
A structure, e.g., a photonic band gap material, exhibiting substantial periodicity on a micron scale is provided. Fabrication involves the steps of providing a template comprising a colloidal crystal, placing the template in an electrolytic solution, electrochemically forming a lattice material, e.g., a high refractive index material, on the colloidal crystal, and then removing the colloidal crystal particles to form the desired structure. The electrodeposition provides a dense, uniform lattice, because formation of the lattice material begins near a conductive substrate, for example, and growth occurs substantially along a plane moving in a single direction, e.g., normal to the conductive substrate. Moreover, because the electrochemically grown lattice is a three-dimensionally interconnected solid, there is very little shrinkage upon subsequent treatment.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.