Silicon etching process for making microchannel plates
First Claim
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1. A method of forming high aspect ratio channels at preselected locations in a silicon element comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a p-doped silicon element having front and rear surfaces;
(b) forming a plurality of pits in the front surface of the element at preselected locations on said surface; and
(c) maintaining the front surface of the element and a counterelectrode in contact with an electrolyte while maintaining the element at a positive potential with respect to the counterelectrode, so that the element is etched preferentially at said pits to form channels extending side-by-side through the silicon element, from said front surface towards said rear surface.
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Abstract
An element with elongated, high aspect ratio channels such as microchannel plate is fabricated by electrochemical etching of a p-type silicon element in a electrolyte to form channels extending through the element. The electrolyte may be an aqueous electrolyte. For use as a microchannel plate, the; the silicon surfaces of the channels can be converted to insulating silicon dioxide, and a dynode material with a high electron emissivity can be deposited onto the insulating surfaces of the channels. New dynode materials are also disclosed.
131 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of forming high aspect ratio channels at preselected locations in a silicon element comprising the steps of:
-
(a) providing a p-doped silicon element having front and rear surfaces; (b) forming a plurality of pits in the front surface of the element at preselected locations on said surface; and (c) maintaining the front surface of the element and a counterelectrode in contact with an electrolyte while maintaining the element at a positive potential with respect to the counterelectrode, so that the element is etched preferentially at said pits to form channels extending side-by-side through the silicon element, from said front surface towards said rear surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A microchannel plate comprising an element having a front surface, a rear surface and a plurality of channels extending therethrough, said channels having interior surfaces, and a dynode material on said interior surfaces, said dynode material being selected from the group consisting of nitrogen and oxygen doped or undoped polysilicon;
- SnO2. Sb;
SnO2 ;
indium tin oxide (ITO);
MgIn2 O4-x ;
InGaO3-x ;
ZnSnO3-x ;
Zn2 In2 O5-x ;
ZnGa2 O4-x ;
Cr2 O3 ;
MnO2-x and Mn2 O3-x (where 0≦
x≦
1);
potassium silicides;
calcium silicides;
barium silicides;
cesium silicides;
magnesium silicides;
manganese silicides; and
Pby Ox (where 1≦
x≦
3 and 1≦
y≦
2). - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
- SnO2. Sb;
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26. A p-doped silicon body having a front surface, a rear surface and a plurality of channels extending therethrough at regularly spaced locations, at substantially constant center-to-center distances said channels having diameters between about 100 nm and 2 μ
- m and aspect ratios above about 20;
1.
- m and aspect ratios above about 20;
Specification