Embodiments disclosed herein include an electrostatic chuck (ESC). In an embodiment, the ESC comprises a substrate with a first surface, where the first surface has a first surface roughness. The ESC may further comprise a plurality of mesas extending up from the first surface. In an embodiment, the plurality of mesas each include a second surface, where the second surface has a second surface roughness. In an embodiment the first surface roughness and the second surface roughness both have an average surface roughness Ra of approximately 0.3 μm or lower.