Patent ID: 8529738
Filing Date: 2013-09-10
Classification: C25D

Abstract:
1. A system for metal-plating and etching a substrate by action of a chemical solution in a tank containing the chemical solution, the substrate covered by an interfering surface metal oxide layer, the system comprising: a substrate-holding fixture disposed relative to the tank so that the portions of the substrate are submerged in the contained chemical solution; a laser pulse source adapted to emit a plurality of laser pulses, each having a duration between 1 picosecond and 10 milliseconds and spaced apart by at least approximately 1 millisecond, and adapted to remove the interfering surface metal oxide layer and expose uncoated substrate surfaces to the action of the contained chemical solution, whereby metal-plating and etching can occur directly on the substrate without interference by the interfering surface metal oxide layer, wherein the substrate-holding fixture is further configured as an electrode and a counter-electrode is disposed in the tank forming an electrolytic cell, whereby the chemical solution contained in the tank can act to electroplate or electroetch exposed clean substrate surfaces, and wherein the electrolytic cell and the laser pulse source are configured for one of sequential operation and concurrent operation, and wherein the substrate-holding fixture is further configured to move the substrate with respect to the laser pulse source, thereby exposing a pattern of uncoated substrate surfaces on the substrate.