Patent ID: 6858378

Claim:
A method of fabricating a microstructure, which defines a three-dimensional solid structure wherein at least one of its height, width, diameter or length is less than about 100 microns, that comprises the steps of: (a) forming a layer of photoimageable composition on a substrate surface wherein the photoimageable composition comprises: (i) a multifunctional polymeric epoxy resin that is dissolved in an organic solvent wherein the epoxy resin comprises oligomers of bisphenol A that are quantitively protected by glycidyl ether and wherein the oligomers have an average functionality that ranges from about 3 to 12; and (ii) a photoactive compound comprising an alkoxyphenylphenyliodonium salt and/or bis(t-butylphenyl)iodonium salt; (b) exposing the layer of photoimageable composition to a pattern of radiation which produces a catalyst capable of changing the photoimageable composition's susceptibility to a developer; (c) applying a developer to remove nonexposed portions of the photoimageable compound which are susceptible to the developer thereby creating a layer defining one or more open patterns therein wherein the one or more open patterns have non-linear dimensions; and (d) filling the one or more open patterns with a metal.