• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.228-238
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• 1992

An investigation on the step-coverage of PECVD and $O_3$ ThCVD oxides was undertaken to implement into the void-free inter metal dielectric planarization using multi-chamber system for the submicron double level metallization. At various initial aspect ratios the instantaneous aspect ratios were measured through modelling and experiment by depositing the oxides up to $0.9{\mu}m$ in thickness in order to monitor the onset of void formation. The modelling was found to be in a good agreement with the observed instantaneous aspect ratio of TEOS-based PECVD oxide whose re-entrant angle was less than $5^{\circ}$. It is demonstrated that either keeping the instantaneous aspect ratio of PECVD oxide as a first layer less than a factor of 0.8 or employing Ar sputter etch to create sloped oxide edge ensures the void-free planarization after$O_3$ ThCVD oxide deposition whose step-coverage is superior to PECVD oxide. It has been observed that $O_3$ ThCVD oxide etchback scheme has shown higher yield of via contact chain than non etchback process, with resistance per via contact of $0.1~0.3{\Omega}/{\mu}m^2$.

• Korean Journal of Materials Research
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• v.23 no.7
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• pp.379-384
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• 2013

In order to produce size-controllable Ag nanoparticles and a nanomesh-patterned Si substrate, we introduce a rapid thermal annealing(RTA) method and a metal assisted chemical etching(MCE) process. Ag nanoparticles were self-organized from a thin Ag film on a Si substrate through the RTA process. The mean diameter of the nanoparticles was modulated by changing the thickness of the Ag film. Furthermore, we controlled the surface energy of the Si substrate by changing the Ar or $H_2$ ambient gas during the RTA process, and the modified surface energy was evaluated through water contact angle test. A smaller mean diameter of Ag nanoparticles was obtained under $H_2$ gas at RTA, compared to that under Ar, from the same thickness of Ag thin film. This result was observed by SEM and summarized by statistical analysis. The mechanism of this result was determined by the surface energy change caused by the chemical reaction between the Si substrate and $H_2$. The change of the surface energy affected on uniformity in the MCE process using Ag nanoparticles as catalyst. The nanoparticles formed under ambient Ar, having high surface energy, randomly moved in the lateral direction on the substrate even though the etching solution consisting of 10 % HF and 0.12 % $H_2O_2$ was cooled down to $-20^{\circ}C$ to minimize thermal energy, which could act as the driving force of movement. On the other hand, the nanoparticles thermally treated under ambient $H_2$ had low surface energy as the surface of the Si substrate reacted with $H_2$. That's why the Ag nanoparticles could keep their pattern and vertically etch the Si substrate during MCE.

• Journal of the Microelectronics and Packaging Society
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.49-53
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• 2001

Vortical etching experiments of ($SrBi_2Ta_2O_9$)/Si thin films have been performed by using the inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching (ICP-ME) apparatus. The purposes of these experiments are to get the effective area of vertical surface. Because this technology is very important to get good qualities of ferroelectric gate structure, capacitor and the minimum parasitic effects related to the excellent performances of the FRAM (Ferroelectric Random Access Memory) device. The reacting gases were Ar and $Cl_2$gases, and various $Ar/C1_2$flow ratios were used. The etching experiments were carried out at various RF powers such as 700, 700, 500W and at various DC powers such as 200, 150, 100, 50W, respectively. The maximum etch rate of $SrBi_2Ta_2O_9$/Si thin films was 1050 A/min at the $Ar/C1_2$ gas ratio of 20/16, RF power of 700 W and DC power of 200 W. From the SEM (scanning electron microscopy) image of the SBT thin films, the wall angle was as good as about $82^{\circ}$.