Patent ID: 9340892
Filing Date: 2016-05-17
CPC Classification: C25D,G03F,Y10T

Claim Text:
1. A method of forming three-dimensional metallic structures, said method comprising: forming a plurality of protruding disposable template portions over a substrate; applying a photoresist over said plurality of protruding disposable template portions, wherein said photoresist comprises a plurality of non-planar portions and a plurality of planar portions, wherein each of said plurality of non-planar portions overlies a respective protruding disposable template portion and each of said plurality of planar portions is between two adjacent non-planar portions; forming a material block on said plurality of planar portions of said photoresist, wherein said material block defines a plurality of openings, wherein each of said plurality of openings overlies a respective non-planar portion of said photoresist to allow said respective non-planar portion to protrude into said each opening; forming a first lithographic mask over said material block, wherein said first lithographic mask comprises a plurality of isolated opaque portions, wherein each isolated opaque portion overlies a respective non-planar portion of said photoresist that protrudes into a respective opening of the material block, wherein said first lithographic mask and said material block form a pattern-defining structure for said photoresist; lithographically exposing said photoresist employing said first lithographic mask and said material block, wherein said exposing forms exposed photoresist portions and unexposed photoresist portions in said photoresist; entirely removing said first lithographic mask and said material block; forming a second lithographic mask over said photoresist and partially lithographically exposing said unexposed photoresist portions of said photoresist by employing said second lithographic mask; developing said photoresist, wherein said developing of the photoresist removes the unexposed photoresist portions of said photoresist to form a plurality of cavities within said photoresist; and forming three dimensional metallic structures by depositing at least one metallic material in said plurality of cavities.