About cookies on this site Our websites require some cookies to function properly (required). In addition, other cookies may be used with your consent to analyze site usage, improve the user experience and for advertising. For more information, please review your options. By visiting our website, you agree to our processing of information as described in IBM’sprivacy statement. To provide a smooth navigation, your cookie preferences will be shared across the IBM web domains listed here.
Publication
Japanese Journal of Applied Physics
Paper
Electroplated and dry-released metallic microstructures for a lateral tunneling unit application
Abstract
This paper presents a new method of fabricating a lateral tunneling unit (LTU), by dry releasing of electroplated structures. An LTU is an integrated tunneling current sensing unit that has a tunneling tip and a linear actuator for moving the tip. The new fabrication method has many advantages over the existing poly crystalline silicon structure and hydrofluoric acid (HF) wet release method, namely, use of a metallic material, thicker structure, higher yield, and a safer, easier, and faster process. New LTUs and LTU-AFM probes were successfully fabricated by this method. Gold and nickel were used as alternative structural materials. The electrolytic polishing method was proposed as a new post-release processing and was used to fabricate sharp needles. The comb-drive actuator of an LTU was operated and the characteristics were measured; the results showed that this actuator has good linearity. © 1994 The Japanese Journal of Applied Physics.