Patent ID: 7385295
Filing Date: 2008-06-10
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of fabricating a nano-gap electrode structure in an array configuration, comprising the steps of: forming a first plurality of first electrodes in an array, each of said plurality of first electrodes having a first electrode surface; depositing a sacrificial spacer layer having a first surface and a second surface defining a thickness of said sacrificial spacer layer upon said first electrode surface of at least one of said first electrodes, said first surface of said sacrificial spacer layer adjacent said first electrode surface of said first electrode; forming a second plurality of second electrodes in an array, each of said plurality of second electrodes having a first electrode surface, said second surface of said sacrificial spacer layer adjacent said first surface of at least one of said second plurality of second electrodes; and removing at least that portion of said sacrificial spacer layer having said first surface of said sacrificial spacer layer adjacent said first electrode surface of a selected one of said first plurality of first electrodes and said second surface of said sacrificial spacer layer adjacent said first electrode surface of at least one of said second plurality of second electrodes; whereby said first electrode surface of said selected one of said first plurality of first electrodes and said first electrode surface of at least one of said second plurality of second electrodes define an electrode gap having a dimension substantially equal to said thickness of said portion of said sacrificial spacer layer that was removed, said first electrode surface of said selected one of said first plurality of first electrodes and said first electrode surface of at least one of said second plurality of second electrodes configured to maintain said electrode gap dimension in response to an application of an electrical signal of sufficient magnitude to operate said three-dimensional nano-gap electrode structure in an array configuration.