Journal
MICROMACHINES
Volume 13, Issue 7, Pages -Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/mi13071046
Keywords
precision processing; electroforming; MEMS; metal structures; deformation
Categories
Funding
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI [16H06078]
- Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) [17939048]
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This study successfully fabricated metal structures that can dynamically deform using a combination of photolithography and electroforming technology. The structures have a high aspect ratio and no defects, making them suitable for applications in environmental science, agriculture, and medicine.
It is difficult to fabricate three-dimensional structures using semiconductor-process technology, because it is based on two-dimensional layered structure fabrication and the etching of thin films. In this study, we fabricated metal structures that can be dynamically deformed from two-dimensional to three-dimensional shapes by combining patterning using photolithography with electroforming technology. First, a resist structure was formed on a Cu substrate. Then, using a Ni sulfamate electroforming bath, a Ni structure was formed by electroforming the fabricated resist structure. Finally, the resist structure was removed to release the Ni structure fabricated on the substrate, and electroforming was used to Au-plate the entire surface. Scanning-electron microscopy revealed that the structure presented a high aspect ratio (thickness/resist width = 3.5), and metal structures could be fabricated without defects across the entire surface, including a high aspect ratio. The metallic structures had an average film thickness of 12.9 mu m with sigma = 0.49 mu m, hardness of 600 HV, and slit width of 7.9 mu m with sigma = 0.25 mu m. This microfabrication enables the fabrication of metal structures that deform dynamically in response to hydrodynamic forces in liquid and can be applied to fields such as environmental science, agriculture, and medicine.
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