IP Library Granted Patent US 9,048,097
Granted Patent B2
US 9,048,097 · App. 13/972,809 · Granted Jun 2, 2015

Semiconductive micro- and nano-wire array manufacturing

Inventors: Emily L. Warren (Pasadena, CA); Heather A. Audesirk (Los Angeles, CA); Nathan S. Lewis (La Canada Flintridge, CA)
Assignee: California Institute of Technology
H01L21/0259H01L21/02656H01L21/0237H01L21/02381H01L21/02532H01L21/02639H01L21/02642H01L21/02645H01L21/02653
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,048,097
App. No.
13/972,809
Granted
Jun 2, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

The disclosure provides methods of manufacturing semiconductive structures using stamping and VLS techniques.

Claims (11)

1. A method for fabricating semiconductor structures comprising the steps of:

(a) contacting a semiconductive substrate having a thermal oxide layer with a stamp comprising agarose containing hydrofluoric acid and wherein the agarose stamp has a pattern of structures extending from the planar surface of the agarose approximately equal to the depth of the thermal oxide layer on the semiconductive substrate, wherein the stamp imprints the negative of the pattern into the thermal oxide layer;

(b) removing the stamp from the semiconductive substrate;

(c) electrodepositing a catalyst into patterned openings directly onto the semiconductive substrate; and

(d) growing a set of semiconductor structures on the substrate, wherein the semiconductor structure growth is supported by a catalyst deposited in the openings.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the semiconductive substrate comprises silicon.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the catalyst comprises gold, copper, nickel or some combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprise etching the thermal oxide layer in hydrofluoric acid after step (b).

5. The method of claim of claim 1 , further comprising reusing the substrate for fabricating additional semiconductor structures by etching and cleaning the Si substrate and repeating steps (a) through (d).

6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising embedding or partially embedding the fabricated semiconductor structures in a binder material matrix wherein the conformably fills gaps between grown semiconductor structures.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein semiconductor structures comprise vertically aligned wire arrays.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 16, 2015
From: WARREN, EMILY L.; AUDESIRK, HEATHER A.; LEWIS, NATHAN S.
To: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Reel/Frame 034735/0609 →
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Dec 6, 2013
From: CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
To: ENERGY, UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF
Reel/Frame 031946/0835 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61692176 · Aug 22, 2012
Related Publication 20140057416A1 · Feb 27, 2014