• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics D
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• v.36D no.5
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• pp.29-35
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• 1999

Inductively coupled plsama etching of platinum thin film was studied using $O_2$ addition to $Cl_2$/Ar gas plasma. In this study, Pt etching mechanism was investigated with Ar/$Cl_2$ /$O_2$ gas plasma by using XPS and QMS. Ion current density was measured with Ar/$Cl_2$ /$O_2$ gas plasma by using single Langmuir probe. It was confirmed by using QMS and single Langmuir probe that Cl and Ar species rapidly decreased and ion current density was also decreased with increasing $O_2$ gas ratios. These results implied that the decrease of Pt etch rate is due to the decrease of reactive species ans ion current density with increasing $O_2$ gas mixing ratios. A maximum etch rate of 150nm/min and the oxide selectivity of 2.5 were obtained at Ar/$Cl_2$ /$O_2$ flow rate of 50 seem, RF power of 600 W, dc bias voltage of 125 V, and the total pressure of 10 mTorr.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.266-270
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• 2003

We studied BCl$_3$ dry etching of GaAs in a planar inductively coupled plasma system. The investigated process parameters were planar ICP source power, chamber pressure, RIE chuck power and gas flow rate. The ICP source power was varied from 0 to 500 W. Chamber pressure, RIE chuck power and gas flow rate were controlled from 5 to 15 mTorr, 0 to 150 W and 10 to 40 sccm, respectively. We found that a process condition at 20 sccm $BCl_3$ 300 W ICP, 100 W RIE and 7.5 mTorr chamber pressure gave an excellent etch result. The etched GaAs feature depicted extremely smooth surface (RMS roughness < 1 nm), vertical sidewall, relatively fast etch rate (> $3000\AA$/min) and good selectivity to a photoresist (> 3 : 1). XPS study indicated a very clean surface of the material after dry etching of GaAs. We also noticed that our planar ICP source was successfully ignited both with and without RIE chuck power, which was generally not the case with a typical cylindrical ICP source, where assistance of RIE chuck power was required for turning on a plasma and maintaining it. It demonstrated that the planar ICP source could be a very versatile tool for advanced dry etching of damage-sensitive compound semiconductors.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 1999.10a
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• pp.49-49
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• 1999

In this study, $Cl_2/BCI_3$ magnetized inductively coupled plasmas (MICP) were used to etch GaN and the effects of magnetic confinements of inductively coupled plasmas on the GaN etch characteristics were investigated as a function of $Cl_2/BCI_3$. Also, the effects of Kr addition to the magnetized $Cl_2/BCI_3$ plasmas on the GaN etch rates were investigated. The characteristics of the plasmas were estimated using a Langmuir probe and quadrupole ma~s spectrometry (QMS). Etched GaN profiles were observed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The small addition of $Cl_2/BCI_3$ (10-20%) in $Cl_2$ increased GaN etch rates for both with and without the magnetic confinements. The application of magnetic confinements to the $Cl_2/BCI_3$ inductively coupled plasmas (ICP) increased GaN etch rates and changed the $Cl_2/BCI_3$ gas composition of the peak GaN etch rate from 10% $BCI_3$ to 20% $BCI_3$. It also increased the etch selectivity over photoresist, while slightly reducing the selectivity over $Si0_2$. The application of the magnetic field significantly increased positive $BCI_2{\;}^+$ measured by QMS and total ion saturation current measured by the Langmuir probe. Other species such as CI, BCI, and CI+ were increased while species such as $BCl_2$ and $BCI_3$ were decreased with the application of the magnetic field. Therefore, it appears that the increase of GaN etch rate in our experiment is related to the increased dissociative ionization of $BCI_3$ by the application of the magnetic field. The addition of 10% Kr in an optimized $Cl_2/BCI_3$ condition (80% $Cl_2/$ 20% $BCI_3$) with the magnets increased the GaN etch rate about 60%. More anisotropic GaN etch profile was obtained with the application of the magnetic field and a vertical GaN etch profile could be obtained with the addition of 10% Kr in an optimized $Cl_2/BCI_3$ condition with the magnets.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 1994.05a
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• pp.138-140
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• 1994

Plasma polymerized thin film was prepared using an interelectrod inductively coupled gas-flow-type reactor. Styrene was chosen as the monomer to be used. This thin films were also delineated by the electron-beam apparatus with an acceleration voltage 30kV, and the pattern in the resist was developed with RIE 80 with argon gas mixture ratio, pressure and RF power. The effect of charge of discharge power on growth rate and etching rate of the thin films were studied. The molecular structure of thin films were investigated by FIR and then was discussed in relation to its quality as a resist. In the case of Plasma polymerization, thickness of resist could be controlled by discharge duration and power. Also etch rate is increased as to growing argon gas and RF power with RIE 80.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.60-63
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• 2011

We investigated the etching characteristics of zinc oxide (ZnO) and the effect of additive gases in a $Cl_2$-based inductively coupled plasma. The inert gases were argon, nitrogen, and helium. The maximum etch rates were 44.3, 39.9, and 37.9 nm/min for $Cl_2$(75%)/Ar(25%), $Cl_2$(50%)/$N_2$(50%), and $Cl_2$(75%)/He(25%) gas mixtures, 600 W radiofrequency power, 150 W bias power, and 2 Pa process pressure. We obtained the maximum etch rate by a combination of chemical reaction and physical bombardment. A volatile compound of Zn-Cl. achieved the chemical reaction on the surface of the ZnO thin films. The physical etching was performed by inert gas ion bombardment that broke the Zn-O bonds. The highly oriented (002) peak was determined on samples, and the (013) peak of $Zn_2SiO_4$ was observed in the ZnO thin film sample based on x-ray diffraction spectroscopy patterns. In addition, the sample of $Cl_2$/He chemistry showed a high full-width at half-maximum value. The root-mean-square roughness of ZnO thin films decreased to 1.33 nm from 5.88 nm at $Cl_2$(50%)/$N_2$(50%) plasma chemistry.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.27.2-27.2
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• 2006

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2008.11a
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• pp.74-76
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• 2008

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2015.08a
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• pp.132-132
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• 2015

Virtual metrology (VM) model based on plasma information (PI) parameter for C4F8 plasma-assisted oxide etching processes is developed to predict and monitor the process results such as an etching rate with improved performance. To apply fault detection and classification (FDC) or advanced process control (APC) models on to the real mass production lines efficiently, high performance VM model is certainly required and principal component regression (PCR) is preferred technique for VM modeling despite this method requires many number of data set to obtain statistically guaranteed accuracy. In this study, as an effective method to include the 'good information' representing parameter into the VM model, PI parameters are introduced and applied for the etch rate prediction. By the adoption of PI parameters of b-, q-factors and surface passivation parameters as PCs into the PCR based VM model, information about the reactions in the plasma volume, surface, and sheath regions can be efficiently included into the VM model; thus, the performance of VM is secured even for insufficient data set provided cases. For mass production data of 350 wafers, developed PI based VM (PI-VM) model was satisfied required prediction accuracy of industry in C4F8 plasma-assisted oxide etching process.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.15 no.6
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• pp.234-238
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• 2005

Effects of plasma composition, ion flux and ion energy on the etch rate, surface morphology and near surface stoichiometry of a single crystalline $La_3Ga_5SiO_{14}$ wafer have been examined in $Cl_2/Ar$ inductively coupled plasma (ICP) discharges. Maximum etch rate ${\sim}1600{\AA}/min$ was achieved either at relatively high source power $({\sim}1000W)$ or high $Cl_2$ content conditions in $Cl_2/Ar$ discharges. The etched surfaces showed similar or better RMS roughness values than those of the unetched control sample and the near surface stoichiometry was found not to be affected by ICP etching.

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 1998.06a
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• pp.339-342
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• 1998

Plasma etching of photoresist needs high etch rate, good uniformity and rae, good uniformity and low damage in low cost. ICP asher is expected to satisfy these requriement for next eneration semiconductor devices. ICPsimulator has been used to design the ashing chamber to redcue the development time and cost, and its results have been verified by QMS, OES and langmuir probe measurments. Plasma characteristics are monitored in terms of RF power and chamber pressure.