A new Cr/Ni-Fe template with surface-relief-grating structures prepared by electrodeposition

Abstract

In this paper, a new Cr/Ni-Fe template with surface-relief-grating (SRG) structure is prepared and suggested to replace the conventional nickel template. The preparation process comprised electrodepositing Cr and Ni-Fe films evenly on nickel templates with SRG at first, then selectively dissolving the nickel layer in an HNO₃ solution (1:1 by volume). After that, a new Cr/Ni-Fe template with SRG on the surface of the Cr layer was obtained. The new template is of a high surface hardness and anticorrosive, so it has a longer life span than the conventional nickel template. Moreover, it is easy to form an oxide film, named a release layer, in the replication process, thereby, the deactivation step can be eliminated, which is necessary in the nickel template replication process. When the Cr/Ni-Fe template was used to replicate the SRG structure, replications preserved the same microstructure as that of the originals.