Patent ID: 7776227

Claim:
A method of depositing or etching a micro- or nano-scale pattern on a work-piece, comprising: a) placing the work piece in an electrochemical reactor proximate to a patterned tool; b) connecting the work piece such that it is the anode if is to be etched or the cathode if it is to be deposited, and the patterned tool such that it is the counter electrode; c) pumping electrolytic fluid necessary for the electrolytic operation of the cell formed between the two electrodes; d) applying a current across the electrodes to etch or deposit the work piece; and e) maintaining the electrodes relatively stationary during deposition or etching of the micro- or nano-scale pattern; wherein the ratio of the distance between the electrodes and the size of the features to be patterned is about 10:1 to 1:10.