Etchant for Dissolving Thin Layer of Ag-Cu-Au Alloy

As to the reflection electrode of LCD (liquid crystal displays), silver-copper-gold alloy (hereafter, it is called as ACA (Ag98%, Cu1%, Au1%)) is an effective material of which weathering resistance can be improved more compared with pure silver. However, there is a problem that gold remains on the substrate as residues when ACA is etched in cerium ammonium nitrate solution or phosphoric acid. Gold can not be etched in these etchants as readily as the other two alloying elements. Gold residue has actually been removed physically by brushing etc. This procedure causes damage to the display elements. Another etchant of iodine/potassium iodide generally known as one of the gold etchants can not give precise etch pattern because of remarkable difference in etching rates among silver, copper and gold. The purpose of this research is to obtain a practical etchant for ACA alloy. The results are as follows. The cyanogen complex salt of gold generates when cyanide is used as the etchant, in which gold dissolves considerably. Oxygen reduction is important as the cathodic reaction in the dissolution of gold. A new etchant of sodium cyanide / potassium ferricyanide whose cathodic reduction is stronger than oxygen, can give precise etch patterns in ACA alloy swiftly at room temperature.