Patent ID: 8314020

Claim:
A method for patterning a metal layer, comprising: providing a substrate having a metal layer thereon; forming a patterned conductive polymeric layer on the metal layer, wherein a portion of the metal layer is exposed by the patterned conductive polymeric layer; subjecting the substrate formed with the patterned conductive polymeric layer to an electrolytic cell, such that the exposed portion of the metal layer is immersed in an electrolytic solution of the electrolytic cell, wherein an anode of the electrolytic cell is electrically coupled to the patterned conductive polymeric layer, and a cathode of the electrolytic cell is immersed in the electrolytic solution; and applying an electrical potential across the anode and the cathode to perform an oxidation-reduction reaction such that the exposed portion of the metal layer is dissolved in the electrolytic solution.