Electroplating of nanolaminates

Abstract

Practical method for constructing materials composed of layers that are a few nanometers thick is disclosed which comprises of plating a substrate with layers of substantially a first metal and substantially a second metal using an electrolytic plating process and using plating cell(s) to locally plate the layers by alternating multiple cells with different plating solutions or alternating plating solutions in a cell.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A method for creating a multi-layer structure of materials on one cathode with 2 or more brush plating anodes that deposit materials sequentially, concurrently and continually on a cyclically moving cathode whereby:
 the surface of the one cathode moves in a loop and returns to the starting position to complete a single cycle;   2 or more brush plating anodes operate on the one cathode;   each of the 2 or more brush plating anodes deposit a unique metal or metal alloy on the one cathode;   each of the 2 or more brush plating anodes operate independently;   each of the 2 or more brush plating anodes are positioned sequentially along the direction of relative motion between the brush plating anodes and the one cathode;   the 2 or more of the brush plating anodes plate concurrently as the surface of the one cathode moves relative to the anodes;   A layer set, comprised of layers of materials corresponding to the sequence of the 2 or more brush plating anodes, is completed upon a single cycle of the cathode;   a new layer set is added with each additional single cycle of the one cathode.   
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in claims  1 , wherein the thickness of the unique metal or metal alloy deposited by each of the 2 or more brush plating anodes is controlled by the anode length in the direction of relative movement between the anode and cathode. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in claims  1 , wherein the thickness of the unique metal or metal alloy deposited by each brush plating anode is controlled by the current applied through each of the 2 or more brush plating anodes. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in claims  1 , wherein the one cathode is a rotating cylinder. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in claims  1 , wherein the one cathode is a moving strip. 
     
     
         21 . The method as recited in claims  1 , wherein the one cathode is a rotating plate.