Electrode sandwich separation

Abstract

Materials bonded together are separated using electrical current, thermal stresses, mechanical force, any combination of the above methods, or any other application or removal of energy until the bonds disappear and the materials are separated. In one embodiment the original bonding was composed of two layers of material. In another embodiment, the sandwich was composed of three layers. In a further embodiment, the parts of the sandwich are firmly maintained in their respective positions during the application of current so as to be able to subsequently align the materials relative to one another.

1 . A method of creating two or more pairs of surfaces that substantially mirror one another, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing a first substrate;    b) applying thereupon a second substrate;    c) separating the first and second substrates, thereby creating a first and a second mold that mirror each other;    d) applying a first material to a surface of said first mold;    e) applying a second material to a surface of said second mold;    f) separating the materials applied in step d) and step e) from the molds whereby the materials applied in step d) and step e) comprise facing surfaces that substantially mirror one another; and    g) repeating steps d) through f) as desired.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said separating step comprises applying an electric current between the materials and the molds.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said separating step comprises applying an electric current between the materials and the molds.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said separating step comprises heating.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein said heating step comprises heating to a temperature of 40° C. or more.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said separating step comprises cooling.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein said cooling step comprises cooling to a temperature of 0° C. or less.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said separating step comprises applying or removing energy.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein said step of applying energy comprises exposing to an ultrasonic energy source.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said separating step comprises applying a mechanical force.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said separating step comprises using any combination of the following methods: 
 a) applying an electrical current;    b) cooling;    c) heating; and    d) forcibly separating.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 a) attaching said first or second material to one or more actuators; and    b) using said actuator to apply a mechanical force, thereby separating said mold and said material.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1  in wherein said step of applying a material to a surface of a mold comprises the steps of: 
 a) applying a material from which a surface is to be made to the mold, so that said material takes the shape of said mold, where both said material and said mold are conductors of electricity; and    b) hardening said material; and    c) separating said material from the mold by breaking the adhesive bond between said material and said mold.    
     
     
         14 . Surfaces mirroring the structure of a mold made according to the method of  claim 13 .  
     
     
         15 . A pair of matching electrodes made according to the method of  claim 1 .  
     
     
         16 . The pair of electrodes of  claim 15  wherein said first electrode comprises titanium.  
     
     
         17 . The pair of electrodes of  claim 15  wherein said second electrode comprises silver.  
     
     
         18 . A method of creating four surfaces, each pair of facing surfaces mirroring one another, comprising: 
 a) preparing a first material;    b) depositing thereupon a second material;    c) depositing upon the second material, or on the other side of the first material, a third material; and    d) applying a method to separate the three materials.    
     
     
         19 . Electrodes for a triode device made according to the method of  claim 18.