Applications in the Fields of Magnetism and Microelectronics

IV. INFORMATION STORAGE APPLICATIONS IN THE FIELDS OF MAGNETISM AND MICROELECTRONIC... 

Electroless deposition as we know it today has had many applications, e.g., in corrosion prevention [5-8], and electronics [9]. Although it yields a limited number of metals and alloys compared to electrodeposition, materials with unique properties, such as Ni-P (corrosion resistance) and Co-P (magnetic properties), are readily obtained by electroless deposition. It is in principle easier to obtain coatings of uniform thickness and composition using the electroless process, since one does not have the current density uniformity problem of electrodeposition. However, as we shall see, the practitioner of electroless deposition needs to be aware of the actions of solution additives and dissolved O2 gas on deposition kinetics, which affect deposit thickness and composition uniformity. Nevertheless, electroless deposition is experiencing increased interest in microelectronics, in part due to the need to replace expensive vacuum metallization methods with less expensive and selective deposition methods. The need to find creative deposition methods in the emerging field of nanofabrication is generating much interest in electroless deposition, at the present time more so as a useful process however, than as a subject of serious research. 

Almost all liquid crystals are diamagnetic. An exception is made with those substances whose molecules incorporate free radicals with permanent magnetic moments. Anisotropy of electric and optical properties of the liquid crystals, closely connected with anisotropy of their molecular structure, causes variety of their electrooptical properties. The external electric field can render a very strong influence on optical properties of liquid crystals, changing, for instance, their transparency and color. Therefore they have found very wide application as electronic indicator panel in microelectronics (calculators, watches and other devices). Such types of devices require very low voltage (parts of volts) and power (pW). 

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