Ion Beam Etching of Silicon, Refractory Metals, and Refractory Metal Silicides Using a Chemistry Assisted Technique

J. D. Chinn, W. Phillips, I. Adesida, E. D. Wolf

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The etching characteristics of silicon and two refractory metals (Ti, Mo) and four refractory metal silicides (TiSi2, TaSi2, MoSi2, PtSi) are described using a technique called chemically assisted ion beam etching (CAIBE). In this technique, reactive Cl2 gas is introduced into a sample chamber in conjunction with, and relatively independent of, a broad beam of Ar+ ions. Incremental increases in the Cl2 partial pressure caused linearly increasing etch rates for all materials investigated, except for Si02. In the case of silicon, correlation between broad beam CAIBE and ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) etching studies was made. The relative etch rate increase of the refractory metals and silicides investigated were found to be related to the vapor pressures of the reaction products. Additional studies have shown that various residual gas contaminants such as hydrogen, oxygen, and H20 can influence etching mechanisms by reducing the reactive Cl2 flux or by forming stable oxides. Linewidths with dimensions below 0.6 μm have been obtained in polycide (a stacked silicide/polysilicon) structures with an etch selectivity >9:1 between the film layers and SiO2 using CAIBE.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)375-380
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of the Electrochemical Society
Volume131
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1984

Keywords

  • integrated circuits
  • interconnects
  • plasma

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Electrochemistry
  • Materials Chemistry

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Ion Beam Etching of Silicon, Refractory Metals, and Refractory Metal Silicides Using a Chemistry Assisted Technique'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this