Abstract
We investigated the etching characteristics of $YMnO_3$ thin films in high-density plasma etching system. In this study. $YMnO_3$ thin films were etched with $CF_{4}/Ar$ gas chemistries in inductively coupled plasma (ICP). Etch rates of $YMnO_3$ were measured according to gas mixing ratios. The maximum etch rate of $YMnO_3$ is 18 nm/min at $CF_{4}/(CF_{4}+Ar)$ of 20%. In optical emission spectroscopy (OES) analysis, F radical and Ar* ions in plasma at various gas chemistries decreased with increasing $CF_4$ content. Chemical states of $YMnO_3$ films exposed in plasma were investigated with x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). There is a chemical reaction between metal (Y, Mn) and F and metal-fluorides were removed effectively by Ar ion sputtering. $YF_x$, $MnF_x$ such as YF, $YF_2$, $YF_3$ and $MnF_3$ Were detected using SIMS analysis. The etch slope is about $65^{\circ}C$ and free of residues.
