This process results in directed electroless plating of the metal to form
discrete metal structures over the entire surface. Because the surface is
pre-patterned with passivated regions inert to metal deposition, the metal
is directed only to the unstamped regions. This allows the formation of
unconnected metal structures without any chemical etching steps. These
metallic arrays are varied in size, separation and shape by using gratings
of different periodicities and blaze angles as the stamp templates. A
variety of well-defined geometric patterns have been fabricated and imaged
using scanning probe, scanning electron, and optical microscopies.
