Patent ID: 8329017

Claim:
A method of electrochemically micro- and/or nano-structuring a sample of a conductive or semiconductor material having two opposite faces, namely a front face and a rear face, the method being characterized in that it comprises the steps of: a) a sample putting step consisting of putting at least the front face of the sample into contact with at least one electrolytic solution stored in at least one tank; b) a counter-electrode placing step consisting of placing at least one counter-electrode in an electrolyte in register with the front face of the sample, said front face being for structuring; c) a working electrode placing step consisting of placing mechanically and reversibly at least one working electrode presenting structuring patterns into dry ohmic contact with the rear face of the sample; and d) an electric current applying step consisting of applying an electric current between at least one counter-electrode and at one least working electrode that are substantially in register with each other in order to obtain an electrochemical reaction at the interface between the front face of the sample and the electrolyte with current density that is modulated by the structuring patterns of the working electrode in order to perform etching and/or deposition on the front face of the sample.