Etching of Evaporated Silver Bromide Layers and Monobath Processing

ABSTRACT

An electron microscope investigation of evaporated silver bromide layers etched in solutions of salts forming soluble complexes with silver halides is carried out. The specific action of the different solvents is established. On the basis of the results obtained a monobath processing of the layers is realized. Further intensifications of the image in a stabilized physical developer leads to the reproduction of 0.4 μm details with an optical density ⩾2 and a width of the black/white transition region ~0.1 μm at light sensitivity about 600 times greater than that of conventional photoresists. Thus the photographic material tends to reach effectively the resolution of contemporary optical devices.