Abstract
In this study, SrBi$_2$Ta$_2$$O_{9}$ (SBT) thin films were etched at different Cl$_2$gas mixing ratio in Cl$_2$/Ar. The maximum etch rate of SBT was 883 $\AA$/min in Cl$_2$(20%)/Ar(80%). The result indicates that physical sputtering of charged particles is dominant to chemical reaction in etching SBT thin films. To evaluate the changes of morphology and crystallinity on the near surface of etched SBT, atomic force microscopy (AFM) and x-ray diffraction (XRD) were used. The rms values of etched samples in Ar only or Cl$_2$ only plasma were higher than that of as-deposited, Cl$_2$/Ar Plasma. The SBT (105) crystalinity of the etched samples decreased in Af only or Cla only plasma, but maintain constant in ClyAr plasma. This can be illustrated by a decrease of Bi content or nonvolatile etching products (Sr-Cl and Ta-Cl), resulting in the changes of stoichiometry on the etched surface of the SBT thin films. The decrease of Bi content and nonvolatile etch products were revealed by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS).).
