Patent ID: 6045678
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: C25D

Abstract:
A process for electroplating a nanofilament in a gated field emission device having a layer of conductive or resistive material, comprising:forming a structure consisting of a layer of conductive or resistive material, a layer of dielectric material, a layer of gate material, a layer of hard mask material, and a layer of mask material,forming a via in the mask material layer, the hard mask material layer, and the gate material layer,forming a high aspect ratio, small diameter via in the dielectric layer under the gate material layer via by highly directional, selective plasma etching to expose an area of the layer of conductive or resistive material,forming a passivation layer on, the hard mask material layer and the gate material layer with the passivation layer covering over the edge of the via in the hard mask material layer and the gate layer, and onto sidewalls of the dielectric layer at the extreme top of the dielectric via, so as to form a via in the passivation layer,forming a plating enhancement layer on at least the bottom of the via of the dielectric layer,forming by electroplating an emitter structure in the via of at least the dielectric and gate material layers,removing at least the passivation layer,etching back the dielectric material from around the thus formed emitter structure,configuring the emitter structure, andsharpening the tip of the emitter structure.