Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 18, 2026

Undercut (etching)

Undercuts from etching (microfabrication) are generally an unwanted side effect, however are sometimes used as a feature such as in the Niemeyer–Dolan technique. Undercuts from etching can occur from two common causes. The first is over etching, which means the etchant was applied too long. The second is due to an isotropic etchant, which means the etchant etches in all directions equally. To overcome this problem an anisotropic etchant is used.

Last revised
Jun 18, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
126 w
Citations
2
Source
Wikipedia ↗
  1. An isotropic etchant that creates an undercut
  2. An anisotropic etchant leaves no undercut
source ↗

Undercuts from etching (microfabrication) are generally an unwanted side effect, however are sometimes used as a feature such as in the Niemeyer–Dolan technique.1 Undercuts from etching can occur from two common causes. The first is over etching, which means the etchant was applied too long. The second is due to an isotropic etchant, which means the etchant etches in all directions equally. To overcome this problem an anisotropic etchant is used.2

References

References

  1. Henning, Torsten (1999-01-27). "Charging effects in niobium nanostructures". pp. 56, 60. arXiv:cond-mat/9901308.
  2. Degarmo, Black & Kohser 2003, p. 897.

Bibliography

  • Degarmo, E. Paul; Black, J T.; Kohser, Ronald A. (2003), Materials and Processes in Manufacturing (9th ed.), Wiley, ISBN 0-471-65653-4.