Patent ID: 7172684

Claim:
A method of producing a three-dimensional structure, comprising: providing an anode; providing a substrate that functions as a cathode; providing an electrolyte between the anode and the cathode; providing a current source controllably connected to the anode and cathode; providing a mask that comprises an at least partially conformable material and a more rigid support material, the mask having at least one opening extending through the at least partially conformable material and extending at least partially through the support material, wherein the opening is defined by mask sidewalls that comprise sidewalls in a region of the support material and sidewalls extending through the at least partially conformable material, wherein the opening defines a mask pattern, and wherein the at least partially conformable material also comprises a face surface of the mask; pressing the face surface of the mask against the substrate; activating the current source to produce a deposition current, after the pressing, to cause deposition of a deposition material onto the substrate in a deposition pattern that is at least in part dictated by the mask pattern, wherein the deposition comprise deposition sidewalls; and after initiating the activating, relatively moving the face surface of the mask away from the substrate by a distance that is less than a distance that would cause separation of the mask sidewalls from the deposition sidewalls, and continuing application of the deposition current so as to allow a height of the deposition to increase, wherein the mask sidewalls in the region of the support material are passivated so that slippage between the deposition material and the mask sidewalls in the region of the support material can occur without causing significant damage to either the deposited material or the mask.