Glossary
Insights
Here you will find explanations of the terms used in connection with our products.
Silicon products
Pitch (Lattice Constant)
The pitch, also referred to as the lattice constant or interpore distance, describes the distance from pore center to pore center. It defines the regular arrangement of the pores and is a key parameter determining the pore density of porous silicon materials.
Pore Type
Porous silicon materials can exhibit different pore types:
- Template
One-sided open pores with a closed pore bottom. These structures are commonly used for infiltration experiments. - Membranes
Pores open on both sides, allowing fluid to pass through the membrane and making them suitable for filtration applications.
Lift-Off Process
The lift-off process is a fabrication method used to produce thin silicon membranes. During this process, the pores at the pore bottom are deliberately widened to such an extent that the pore walls merge with neighboring pores, causing the porous layer to lose its mechanical connection to the underlying material.
As a result, free-standing membranes are formed, whose bottom surface exhibits a structured morphology with peaks between the pores. This surface is distinctly different from the smooth top surface formed during the structuring process.
Alumina products
Pitch (Lattice Constant)
The pitch, also referred to as the lattice constant or interpore distance, describes the distance from pore center to pore center. It defines the regular arrangement of the pores and is a key parameter influencing the pore density and porosity of porous aluminum oxide materials.
Pore Type
Porous aluminum oxide materials can be provided in different pore configurations:
- Template
One-sided open pores with a closed pore bottom. In this configuration, the porous aluminum oxide layer is supplied on a thick aluminum substrate (several hundred micrometers), providing mechanical stability and ease of handling. These structures are commonly used for infiltration processes and template-based fabrication of nanostructures. - Membranes
Pores open on both sides, forming free-standing porous aluminum oxide membranes that allow fluid flow through the material, making them suitable for filtration and analytical applications.