Patent attributes
An in-place bonding method in which a metal template layer under a carbon layer is removed while the carbon layer is still attached to a substrate is described for forming a carbon-on-insulator substrate. In one embodiment of the in-place bonding method, at least one layered metal/carbon (M/C) region is formed on an insulating surface layer of an initial substrate structure. The at least one layered M/C region has edges that are bordered by exposed regions of the insulating surface layer. Some edges of the at least one layered M/C region are then secured to a base substrate of the initial structure via a securing structure, while other edges are left exposed. A selective metal etchant removes the metal layer under the carbon layer using the exposed edges for access. After metal etching, the now-unsupported carbon layer bonds to the underlying insulating surface layer by attraction.