Papers by Keyword: Dry Plasma Etch

Abstract: We demonstrate a top-down fabrication technique for nanometer scale silicon carbide (SiC) pillars by using inductively coupled SF6/O2 plasma etching. The obtained SiC nanopillars exhibit high anisotropy features (aspect ratio ~ 6.5) with high etch depth (>7 μm). The etch characteristics of SiC nanopillars obtained under these conditions show a high etch rate (550 nm/min) and a high selectivity (over 60 for Ni mask). We obtained hexagonal symmetry of SiC nanopillar, which might be attributed to the crystallographic structure of the SiC phase.

Abstract: A top-down fabrication technique for nanometer scale silicon carbide (SiC) pillars has been demonstrated by using inductively coupled SF₆/O₂ plasma etching. At optimal etching conditions, the obtained SiC nanopillars exhibit high anisotropy features (aspect ratio ~ 6.5) with high etch depth (>7 μm). The etch characteristics of SiC nanopillars under these conditions show a high etch rate (550 nm/min) and a high selectivity (over 60 for Ni).

Abstract: Meso-scale structures are formed on a silicon surface using a sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) based dry etching process. Etched feature parameters, including etch rate, trench profile, and selectivity are explored using an optical emission spectroscopy and a resonance hairpin probe. With increasing process power, the etch rate was observed to increase, which was correlated with an observed increase in intensity of fluorine emission. Damage of the photoresist with increasing power was observed and a marked increase in hydrogen (H) emission was found to indicate this fault. The electron density and the sidewall roughness were also found to increase with higher reactor power. The e-SF6 collisions contribute to the production of atomic fluorine, which etches the silicon by the dissociative ionization (SF+5 and F or SF+3 and F) and electron impact dissociation (SF5 and F).