Contamination issues in plasma etching of non-volatile materials: managing by-product deposition

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
K.A. Olson ◽  
L. Jerde ◽  
J.P. Almerico
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Etching ◽  
Volatile Materials

Using the secondary electrons (SE) of SEM with NIST‘s MONSEL-II program to obtain improved linewidth measurements and slope angles of line edges on a MMIC GaAs device

1996 ◽  
Vol 54 ◽  
pp. 944-945
Author(s):  
Richard G. Sartore
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Circuits ◽  
Plasma Etching ◽  
Microwave Integrated Circuits ◽  
Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits ◽  
Thick Gold ◽  
Gaas Devices ◽  
Source Distance ◽  
Margin Of Error ◽  
Dimensional Measurements ◽  
Barrier Metal

In the evaluation of GaAs devices from the MMIC (Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits) program for Army applications, there was a requirement to obtain accurate linewidth measurements on the nominal 0.5 micrometer gate lengths used to fabricate these devices. Preliminary measurements indicated a significant variation (typically 10 % to 30% but could be more) in the critical dimensional measurements of the gate length, gate to source distance and gate to drain distance. Passivation introduced a margin of error, which was removed by plasma etching. Additionally, the high aspect ratio (4-5) of the thick gold (Au) conductors also introduced measurement difficulties. The final measurements were performed after the thick gold conductor was removed and only the barrier metal remained, which was approximately 250 nanometer thick platinum on GaAs substrate. The thickness was measured using the penetration voltage method. Linescan of the secondary electron signal as it scans across the gate is shown in Figure 1.

Silicon layers grown over SiO2 by liquid phase epitaxy: Electron Microscopical study

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 566-567
Author(s):  
F. Banhart ◽  
F.O. Phillipp ◽  
R. Bergmann ◽  
E. Czech ◽  
M. Konuma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Plasma Etching ◽  
Liquid Phase Epitaxy ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Microscopical Study ◽  
Sample Temperature ◽  
Structural Defects ◽  
Si Substrates ◽  
Etched Surface

Defect-free silicon layers grown on insulators (SOI) are an essential component for future three-dimensional integration of semiconductor devices. Liquid phase epitaxy (LPE) has proved to be a powerful technique to grow high quality SOI structures for devices and for basic physical research. Electron microscopy is indispensable for the development of the growth technique and reveals many interesting structural properties of these materials. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy can be applied to study growth mechanisms, structural defects, and the morphology of Si and SOI layers grown from metallic solutions of various compositions.The treatment of the Si substrates prior to the epitaxial growth described here is wet chemical etching and plasma etching with NF3 ions. At a sample temperature of 20°C the ion etched surface appeared rough (Fig. 1). Plasma etching at a sample temperature of −125°C, however, yields smooth and clean Si surfaces, and, in addition, high anisotropy (small side etching) and selectivity (low etch rate of SiO2) as shown in Fig. 2.

Metal-Assisted Plasma Etching of Silicon: A Liquid-Free Alternative to MACE

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Sun ◽  
Benjamin Almquist
Keyword(s):  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Plasma Etching ◽  
Chemical Etching ◽  
Gold Films ◽  
Metallic Films ◽  
Au Catalyst ◽  
Feed Concentration ◽  
Catalytic Activities ◽  
Metal Assisted Chemical Etching ◽  
Complex Nanostructures

For decades, fabrication of semiconductor devices has utilized well-established etching techniques to create complex nanostructures in silicon. Of these, two of the most common are reactive ion etching in the gaseous phase and metal-assisted chemical etching (MACE) in the liquid phase. Though these two methods are highly established and characterized, there is a surprising scarcity of reports exploring the ability of metallic films to catalytically enhance the etching of silicon in dry plasmas via a MACE-like mechanism. Here, we discuss a <u>m</u>etal-<u>a</u>ssisted <u>p</u>lasma <u>e</u>tch (MAPE) performed using patterned gold films to catalyze the etching of silicon in an SF<sub>6</sub>/O<sub>2</sub> mixed plasma, selectively increasing the rate of etching by over 1000%. The degree of enhancement as a function of Au catalyst configuration and relative oxygen feed concentration is characterized, along with the catalytic activities of other common MACE metals including Ag, Pt, and Cu. Finally, methods of controlling the etch process are briefly explored to demonstrate the potential for use as a liquid-free fabrication strategy.

Development of Backside Scanning Capacitance Microscopy Technique for Advanced SOI Microprocessors

2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinod Narang ◽  
P. Muthu ◽  
J.M. Chin ◽  
Vanissa Lim
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Etching ◽  
Data Interpretation ◽  
Parameters Optimization ◽  
Scanning Capacitance Microscopy ◽  
Microscopy Technique ◽  
Thermal Oxide ◽  
Specific Analysis ◽  
Thin Oxide ◽  
P Type ◽  
Uv Ozone

Abstract Implant related issues are hard to detect with conventional techniques for advanced devices manufactured with deep sub-micron technology. This has led to introduction of site-specific analysis techniques. This paper presents the scanning capacitance microscopy (SCM) technique developed from backside of SOI devices for packaged products. The challenge from backside method includes sample preparation methodology to obtain a thin oxide layer of high quality, SCM parameters optimization and data interpretation. Optimization of plasma etching of buried oxide followed by a new method of growing thin oxide using UV/ozone is also presented. This oxidation method overcomes the limitations imposed due to packaged unit not being able to heat to high temperature for growing thermal oxide. Backside SCM successfully profiled both the n and p type dopants in both cache and core transistors.

МОДУЛЬНОЕ ПРОЕКТИРОВАНИЕ ВАКУУМНЫХ УСТАНОВОК ДЛЯ МИКРОЭЛЕКТРОННЫХ ТЕХНОЛОГИЙ

2020 ◽  
Vol 96 (3s) ◽  
pp. 489-493
Author(s):  
М.Г. Бирюков ◽  
В.В. Одиноков ◽  
В.В. Панин ◽  
В.М. Долгополов ◽  
А.В. Шубников
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Etching ◽  
Vacuum Plasma ◽  
Loading And Unloading ◽  
Cluster Type

Представлен модульный принцип создания вакуумно-плазменного оборудования для микроэлектронных технологий с использованием различных вариантов загрузки-выгрузки пластин в рабочий модуль (реактор): установки с поштучной ручной загрузкой-выгрузкой пластин, с поштучной загрузкой-выгрузкой пластин из шлюзовой камеры манипулятором, с поштучной загрузкой-выгрузкой пластин манипулятором из кассеты в кассету в шлюзовой камере, а также оборудование кластерного типа. Рабочие модули установок обеспечивают высокие требования к процессам плазмохимического травления. The paper presents modular principle of creating vacuum-plasma equipment for microelectronic technologies by using various options for loading and unloading wafers into a working module (reactor): systems with single manual loading and unloading wafers, with single loading and unloading wafers from a loadlock by a manipulator, with single loading and unloading wafers with a manipulator from a cassette-to-cassette in a loadlock, as well as cluster type equipment. Working modules of systems provide high requirements to the processes of plasma etching.

scholarly journals Ripple Formation during Oblique Angle Etching

Coatings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 272
Author(s):  
Mehmet F. Cansizoglu ◽  
Mesut Yurukcu ◽  
Tansel Karabacak
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Etching ◽  
Incidence Angle ◽  
Incident Beam ◽  
Root Mean Square Roughness ◽  
Sticking Coefficient ◽  
Oblique Angle ◽  
Nano Fabrication ◽  
Ripple Formation ◽  
Rapid Formation ◽  
Roughness Analysis

Chemical removal of materials from the surface is a fundamental step in micro- and nano-fabrication processes. In conventional plasma etching, etchant molecules are non-directional and perform a uniform etching over the surface. However, using a highly directional obliquely incident beam of etching agent, it can be possible to engineer surfaces in the micro- or nano- scales. Surfaces can be patterned with periodic morphologies like ripples and mounds by controlling parameters including the incidence angle with the surface and sticking coefficient of etching particles. In this study, the dynamic evolution of a rippled morphology has been investigated during oblique angle etching (OAE) using Monte Carlo simulations. Fourier space and roughness analysis were performed on the resulting simulated surfaces. The ripple formation was observed to originate from re-emission and shadowing effects during OAE. Our results show that the ripple wavelength and root-mean-square roughness evolved at a more stable rate with accompanying quasi-periodic ripple formation at higher etching angles (θ > 60°) and at sticking coefficient values (Sc) 0.5 ≤ Sc ≤ 1. On the other hand, smaller etching angle (θ < 60°) and lower sticking coefficient values lead to a rapid formation of wider and deeper ripples. This result of this study can be helpful to develop new surface patterning techniques by etching.

scholarly journals The Use of Ion Milling for Surface Preparation for EBSD Analysis

Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 3970
Author(s):  
Wojciech J. Nowak
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Etching ◽  
Ion Beam ◽  
Metallic Matrix ◽  
Surface Preparation ◽  
Optical Emission ◽  
Alternative Methods ◽  
Ebsd Analysis ◽  
Crystallographic Structure ◽  
Ion Milling ◽  
Electron Backscattered Diffraction

An electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) method provides information about the crystallographic structure of materials. However, a surface subjected to analysis needs to be well-prepared. This usually requires following a time-consuming procedure of mechanical polishing. The alternative methods of surface preparation for EBSD are performed via electropolishing or focus ion beam (FIB). In the present study, plasma etching using a glow discharge optical emission spectrometer (GD-OES) was applied for surface preparation for EBSD analysis. The obtained results revealed that plasma etching through GD-OES can be successfully used for surface preparation for EBSD analysis. However, it was also found that the plasma etching is sensitive for the alloy microstructure, i.e., the presence of intermetallic phases and precipitates such as carbides possess a different sputtering rate, resulting in non-uniform plasma etching. Preparation of the cross-section of oxidized CM247 revealed a similar problem with non-uniformity of plasma etching. The carbides and oxide scale possess a lower sputtering rate than the metallic matrix, which caused formation of relief. Based on obtained results, possible resolutions to suppress the effect of different sputtering rates are proposed.

scholarly journals Remarkable plasma-resistance performance by nanocrystalline Y2O3·MgO composite ceramics for semiconductor industry applications

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyeon-Myeong Oh ◽  
Young-Jo Park ◽  
Ha-Neul Kim ◽  
Kundan Kumar ◽  
Jae-Woong Ko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Etching ◽  
Semiconductor Industry ◽  
High Plasma ◽  
Hot Press ◽  
Composite Ceramics ◽  
Plasma Resistance ◽  
Industry Applications ◽  
Hot Press Sintering ◽  
Resistance Performance ◽  
First Time

AbstractMotivated by recent finding of crystallographic-orientation-dependent etching behavior of sintered ceramics, the plasma resistance of nanocrystalline Y2O3-MgO composite ceramics (YM) was evaluated for the first time. We report a remarkably high plasma etching resistance of nanostructure YM surpassing the plasma resistance of commercially used transparent Y2O3 and MgAl2O4 ceramics. The pore-free YM ceramic with grain sizes of several hundred nm was fabricated by hot press sintering, enabling theoretical maximum densification at low temperature. The insoluble two components effectively suppressed the grain growth by mutual pinning. The engineering implication of the developed YM nanocomposite imparts enhanced mechanical reliability, better cost effectiveness with excellent plasma resistance property over their counterparts in plasma using semiconductor applications.

scholarly journals An Update on The Problem of Small Comets

1998 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 237-238
Author(s):  
J.C. Brandt ◽  
M.F. A’Hearn
Keyword(s):  
Recent Work ◽  
Terrestrial Planets ◽  
Indirect Methods ◽  
Earth’S Atmosphere ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Icy Bodies ◽  
Earth's Atmosphere ◽  
Search Program ◽  
Volatile Materials

The evidence for a major population of small comets (SCs) is summarized in two steps. First, we briefly summarize our previous work. Second, we describe recent work that continues to find SCs. When new capabilities become available that can detect SCs, we expect to find them and this is occurring. At present, their detection is a haphazard process and we advocate a dedicated, optimized search program. We define SCs as those icy bodies (i.e., sublimating bodies) with radius less than 1000 meters. Often the existence of SCs is inferred from effects ascribed to them. These “effects” include: lunar cratering; cratering on Ganymede; excess interplanetary hydrogen; delivery of volatile materials to the terrestrial planets; and a source of fragile bodies entering the Earth’s atmosphere. While some of these indirect methods support the existence of SCs, direct observations are clearly preferred.

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