Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
179274 | Electrochemistry Communications | 2013 | 4 Pages |
•EC-WETS works on aluminum workpiece in an up-down mode.•Potential-pulse methods promote the mass balance and the micromachining quality.•Machining tolerance lower than 200 nm and removal rate higher than 210 nm/min.
We proposed an up–down working mode of electrochemical wet stamping technique (EC-WETS) for three dimensional (3D) micromachining on aluminum (Al) surface. 3D microstructures on a Si mold were transferred on to an agarose hydrogel containing 15% NaNO3, 2% MgF2, 1% NaOH and 5% glycerin, which acted as the quasi-solid electrolyte for the electrochemical micromachining. The transferred 3D microstructures on agarose hydrogel were then duplicated onto Al surface through anodic dissolution. The micromachining quality was improved by pulse-potential method dramatically with a machining tolerance lower than 200 nm and an average removal rate of 210 nm min− 1 in the Z direction. This method was proved to be a highly efficient, low cost and green method for 3D micromachining on active metal surface, which would be valuable for the manufacture of microelectromechanical system (MEMS).
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