Patent ID: 7998323

Claim:
A focused-electric-field imprinting (FEFI) apparatus comprising: a machine for processing a substrate having a conductive layer, wherein the machine includes a patterned membrane support having a plurality of recesses separated by raised areas; one or more passageways connected to the plurality of recesses, wherein the passageways hold an electrolyte, and wherein the machine is configured to apply a controlled pressure to the electrolyte in the passageways; an ion-conducting membrane that has a first surface attached to the raised areas of the membrane support and suspended across the plurality of recesses, and a second surface opposite the first surface and facing the substrate, and that has at least one curved surface area that is placed facing the conductive layer of the substrate, wherein the machine is configured to control a shape of the curved surface, such that the surface has a shape that the machine changes for different operations of the machine by changing the controlled pressure, and wherein the machine is configured to make the shape concave by application of a negative pressure to the membrane for at least some of the operations; a station that immerses the substrate and membrane in a liquid; and a source of electrical power that is configured to apply a focused electric field between the membrane and the conductive layer to imprint a focused-electric-field pattern of selected portions of the conductive layer when the machine-controlled shape is concave, wherein the focused electric field has a waist that is narrower than its respective support-mask recess, and wherein the focused electric field pattern imprinted has at least one dimension narrower than the respective dimension of the membrane support recess.