Etching Characteristics of $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ Using High-Density Helicon Plasma for the Nonvolatile Phase Change Memory Applications

헬리콘 플라즈마를 이용한 $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5(GST)$ 상변화 재료의 식각 특성 검토

For the realization of PRAM, $Ge_2Sb_2Te_5$ (GST) has been employed for the phase transition between the crystal and amorphous states by electrical joule heating. Although there has been a vast amount of results concerning the GST in material aspect for the laser-induced optical storage disc applications, the process-related issues of GST for the PRAM applications have not been reported. In this work, the etching behaviors of GST were investigated when the processing conditions were varied in the high-density helicon plasma. The etching parameters of RF main power, RF bias power, and chamber pressure were fixed at 600 W, 150 W, and 5 mTorr, respectively. For the etching processes, gas mixtures of $Ar/Cl_2$, $Ar/CF_4$, and $Ar/CHF_3$ were employed, in which the etching rates and etching selectivities of GST thin film in given gas mixtures were evaluated. From obtained results, it is found that we can arbitrarily design the etching process according to given cell structures and material combinations for PRAM cell fabrications.