IP Library Granted Patent US 8,299,341
Granted Patent B2
US 8,299,341 · App. 12/779,780 · Granted Oct 30, 2012

Fabrication of vertically aligned metallic nanopillars

Assignee: The California Institute of Technology
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,299,341
App. No.
12/779,780
Granted
Oct 30, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

Solid and hollow cylindrical nanopillars with nanoscale diameters are provided. Also provides is a method of making such nanopillars using electron beam lithography followed by the electroplating.

Claims (24)

1. A solid or hollow nano-crystalline pillar structure lacking Ga + ion damage, made by a process comprising

(a) coating a substrate with a conductive layer;

(b) coating the conductive layer with a resist polymer;

(c) using an electron beam lithography technique to pattern a template into the resist polymer;

(d) electrodepositing a metal into the template; and

(e) removing the resist; and (f) coating over the substrate having the conductive layer and the metal with a metal oxide, a metal nitride or other organo-metallic materials.

2. The solid or hollow nano-crystalline pillar structure of claim 1 , wherein the substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, fused-silica, quartz, silicon, organic polymers, siloxane polymers, borosilicate glass, fluorocarbon polymers, metal, hardened sapphire, and a ceramic.

3. The solid or hollow nano-crystalline pillar structure of claim 2 , wherein the substrate is silicon.

4. The solid or hollow nano-crystalline pillar structure of claim 1 , wherein the conductive layer comprises a conductive metal.

5. The solid or hollow nano-crystalline pillar structure of claim 1 , wherein the resist polymer comprises polymethylmethacrylate.

6. The solid or hollow nano-crystalline pillar structure of claim 1 , wherein the electrode positing is by potentiostatic, galvanostatic or by alternating current/voltage techniques.

7. The solid or hollow nano-crystalline pillar structure of claim 1 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, rhodium, copper, chrome, nickel, brass, iridium and alloys of any of the foregoing.

8. A method of making a nanopillar composition lacking Ga + ion damage comprising:

(a) coating a substrate with a conductive layer;

(b) coating the conductive layer with a resist polymer;

(c) using an electron beam lithography technique to pattern a template into the resist polymer;

(d) electrodepositing a metal into the template; and

(e) removing the resist; and (f) coating over the substrate having the conductive layer and the metal with a metal oxide, a metal nitride or other organo-metallic materials.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the substrate comprises a material selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, fused-silica, quartz, silicon, organic polymers, siloxane polymers, borosilicate glass, fluorocarbon polymers, metal, hardened sapphire and a ceramic.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the substrate is silicon.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the conductive layer comprises a conductive metal.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the resist polymer comprises polymethyl methacrylate.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the electrodepositing is by potentiostatic, galvanostatic or by alternating current/voltage techniques.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the metal is selected from the group consisting of gold, silver, rhodium, copper, chrome, nickel, brass, iridium and alloys of any of the foregoing.

Assignments (2)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Dec 23, 2010
From: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
To: NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Reel/Frame 025561/0758 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 21, 2010
From: GREER, JULIA R.; BUREK, MICHAEL
To: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Reel/Frame 024569/0183 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61177944 · May 13, 2009
Related Publication 20100291385A1 · Nov 18, 2010