• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.853-856
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• 2005

Inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack, which is one of the key elements in magnetic random access memory, was studied. The MTJ stacks were patterned in nanometer size by electron(e)-beam lithography, and TiN thin films were employed as a hard mask. The etch process of TiN hard mask was examined using Ar, $Cl_2/Ar$, and $SF_6/Ar$. The TiN hard mask patterned by e-beam lithography was first etched and then the etching of MTJ stack was performed. The MTJ stacks were etched using Ar, $Cl_2/Ar$, and $BCl_3/Ar$ gases by varying gas concentration and pressure.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.12
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• pp.775-778
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• 2003

We studied InP etching in high density planar inductively coupled $BCl_3$and $BCl_3$/Ar plasmas(PICP). The investigated process parameters were PICP source power, RIE chuck power, chamber pressure and $BCl_3$/Ar gas composition. It was found that increase of PICP source power and RIE chuck power increased etch rate of InP, while that of chamber pressure decreased etch rate. Etched InP surface was clean and smooth (RMS roughness <2 nm) with a moderate etch rate (300-500 $\AA$/min) after the planar $BCl_3$/Ar ICP etching. It may make it possible to open a new regime of InP etching with $CH_4$$H_2$-free plasma chemistry. Some amount of Ar addition (<50%) also improved etch rates of InP, while too much Ar addition reduced etch rates of InP.

• Journal of the Institute of Electronics Engineers of Korea SD
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• v.38 no.12
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• pp.8-13
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• 2001

Cerium oxide ($CeO_2$) thin film has been proposed as a buffer layer between the ferroelectric thin film and the Si substrate in Metal-Ferroelectric-Insulator-Silicon (MFIS) structures for ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) applications. In this study, $CeO_2$ thin films were etched with $Cl_2$/Ar gas mixture in an inductively coupled plasma (ICP). Etch properties were measured for different gas mixing ratio of $Cl_2$($Cl_2$+Ar) while the other process conditions were fixed at RF power (600 W), dc bias voltage (-200 V), and chamber pressure (15 mTorr). The highest etch rate of $CeO_2$ thin film was 230 ${\AA}$/min and the selectivity of $CeO_2$ to $YMnO_3$ was 1.83 at $Cl_2$($Cl_2$+Ar gas mixing ratio of 0.2. The surface reaction of the etched $CeO_2$ thin films was investigated using x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. There is a Ce-Cl bonding by chemical reaction between Ce and Cl. The results of secondary ion mass spectrometer (SIMS) analysis were compared with the results of XPS analysis and the Ce-Cl bonding was monitored at 176.15 (a.m.u). These results confirm that Ce atoms of $CeO_2$ thin films react with chlorine and a compound such as CeCl remains on the surface of etched $CeO_2$ thin films. These products can be removed by Ar ion bombardment.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.161-165
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• 2005

We investigated selective dry etching of GaAs over AlGaAs and InGaP in high density planar inductively coupled $BCl_3/SF_6$ plasmas. The process parameters were ICP source power (0-500 W), RE chuck power (0-30W) and gas composition $(60-100\%\;BCl_3\;in\;BCl_3/SF_6)$. The process results were characterized in terms of etch rate, selectivities of GaAs over AlGaAs and InGaP, surface morphology, surface roughness and residues after etching. $BCl_3/SF_6$ selective etching of GaAs showed quite good results in this study. Selectivities of GaAs $(GaAs:AlGaAs\~36:1,\;GaAs:InGaP\~45:1)$ were superior at $18BCl_3/2SF_6$, 20 W RF chuck power, 300 W ICP source power and 7.5 mTorr. Addition of $(5-15\%)SF_6\;to\;BCl_3$ produced relatively high selectivities of GaAs over AlGaAs and InGaP during etching due to decrease of etch rates of AlGaAs and InGaP (boiling points of etch products: $AlF_3\~1300^{\circ}C,\;InF_3>1200^{\circ}C$ at atmosphere) at the condition. SEM and AFM data showed slightly sloped sidewall and somewhat rough surface$(RMS\~9nm)$. XPS study on the surface of processed GaAs proved a very clean surface after dry etching. It shows that planar inductively coupled $BCl_3/SF_6$ plasmas could be a good candidate for selective dry etching of GaAs over AlGaAs and InGaP.