Investigation of the LIGA process to fabricate microchannel plates

This paper describes the development of microchannel plate prototypes with aspect ratios of 20:1 and a variety of microchannel geometries. The LIGA process is utilized to fabricate nickel molds up to 150 /spl mu/m in height with planarized surfaces. A novel application of spin-on glass is developed to obtain glass structures in Ni molds. A reverse electroplating is used to remove the Ni mold and release the glass structures with height of more than 100 /spl mu/m.