Dry etching of ZnO thin film using a $CF_4$ mixed by Ar

In this paper, the etching behavior of ZnO in $CF_4$ plasma mixed Ar was investigated. Previously, the etch rate in $CF_4$/Ar plasma was reported that it is slower than that in Cl containing plasma. But, plasma included Cl atom can produce the by-product such as $ZnCl_2$. In order to solve this film contamination, no Cl containing etching gas is required. We controlled the etching parameter such as source power, substrate bias power, and $CF_4$/Ar gas ratio to acquire the fast etch rate using a ICP etcher. We accomplished the etching rate of 144.85 nm/min with the substrate bias power of 200W. As the energetic fluorine atoms were bonded with Zinc atoms, the fluoride zinc crystal ($ZnF_2$) was observed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).