Key fabrication processing

The concept of polymer-based 3D microstructure utilizes replica molding. Therefore, the key fabrication processes include 3D mold fabrication and pattern transfer. The material property is a very important factor when choosing the polymer and mold materials for special applications. For easy handling and accurate shape transfer, the mold requires smooth surface and relatively low thermal expansion coefficient since the curing of the polymer often involves heat. Nowadays, several polymer materials such as PDMS, PMMA, and SU-8 are popular choices for microfluidic applications. 

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has grown very rapidly in the last twenty years and applications of this fabrication process are now key elements in many industrial products, such as semiconductors, optoelectronics, optics, cutting tools, refractory fibers, filters and many others. CVD is no longer a laboratory curiosity but a maj or technology on par with other maj or technological disciplines such as electrodeposition, powder metallurgy, or conventional ceramic processing. 

Based on the micro-electronics fabrication process, Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MOEMS) have not yet been used in astronomical instrumentation, but this technology will provide the key to small, low-cost, light, and scientifically efficient instruments, and allow impressive breakthroughs in tomorrow s observational astronomy. Two major applications of MOEMS are foreseen ... 

FuelCell Energy is a partner with Versa Power Systems, Nexant, and Gas Technology Institute to develop more affordable fuel-cell-based technology that uses synthesis gas from a coal gasifier. The key objectives include the development of fuel cell technologies, fabrication processes, and manufacturing capabilities for solid oxide fuel cell stacks for multi-mega-watt power plants. 

Transport of mass, energy, and momentum in porous media is a key aspect of a large number of fiber-reinforced plastic composite fabrication processes. In design and optimization of such processes, computer simulation plays an important role. Recent studies [1-14] have... 

A key focus of research into organic solar cells over the past decade has been the design of materials and devices to increase light absorption in the active layers. These efforts include the development of novel materials, the implementation of clever optics in the device structure to maximise the absorption of incident light, and new fabrication processes and surface modifications to maximise light harvesting. 

Laser ablation has grown to be an important technique for the fabrication of microelements. The role of microtechnology will increase in the coming years and laser-based fabrication processes are one of the key technologies for the future. The application of designed materials, especially polymers, will further improve the performance of laser-based methods. Already companies are specialized and offer polymers designed for laser structuring. 

A key point regarding electrochemical sensors is the fabrication process. These devices are usually obtained by means of sintering techniques to achieve pellet structures (Kida et al., 2000), and some authors even combine thin- or thick-film techniques to fabricate some elements such as electrodes (Salam et al., 1998). But the great potential of the use of planar configurations has made them more usual in the literature (Ramfrez-Salgado and Fabry, 2003, Fergus, 2008). Planar devices ease the fabrication process so... 

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