• Electrical & Electronic Materials
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.188-195
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• 1996

The AlSi etching process using the MERIE type reactor carried out with different process parameters such as C1$_{2}$ and N$_{2}$ gas flow rate, RF power and chamber pressure. The etching characteristics were evaluated in terms of etch rate, selectivity, uniformity and etched profile. As the N2 gas flow rate is increased, the AlSi etch rate is decreased and uniformity has remained constant within .+-.5%. The etch rate is increased and uniformity is decreased, according to increment of the C1$_{2}$ gas flow rate, RF power and chamber pressure. Selective etching of TEOS with respect to AlSi is decreased as the RF power is increased while it is increased by increment of the C1$_{2}$ gas flow rate and chamber pressure, on the other hand, selective etching of photoresist with respect to AlSi is increased by increment of the C1$_{2}$ gas flow rate and chamber pressure, it is decreased as the N$_{2}$ gas flow rate is increased.

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.10-14
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• 2015

This paper reports the results of a study on the optimization of the etching profile, which is an important factor in deep-reactive-ion etching (DRIE), i.e., dry etching. Dry etching is the key processing step necessary for the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) and various microelectromechanical sensors (MEMS). Large-area etching (open area > 20%) under a high-frequency (HF) condition with nonoptimized processing parameters results in damage to the etched sidewall. Therefore, in this study, optimization was performed under a low-frequency (LF) condition. The HF method, which is typically used for through-silicon via (TSV) technology, applies a high etch rate and cannot be easily adapted to processes sensitive to sidewall damage. The optimal etching profile was determined by controlling various parameters for the DRIE of a large Si wafer area (open area > 20%). The optimal processing condition was derived after establishing the correlations of etch rate, uniformity, and sidewall damage on a 6-in Si wafer to the parameters of coil power, run pressure, platen power for passivation etching, and $SF_6$ gas flow rate. The processing-parameter-dependent results of the experiments performed for optimization of the etching profile in terms of etch rate, uniformity, and sidewall damage in the case of large Si area etching can be summarized as follows. When LF is applied, the platen power, coil power, and $SF_6$ should be low, whereas the run pressure has little effect on the etching performance. Under the optimal LF condition of 380 Hz, the platen power, coil power, and $SF_6$ were set at 115W, 3500W, and 700 sccm, respectively. In addition, the aforementioned standard recipe was applied as follows: run pressure of 4 Pa, $C_4F_8$ content of 400 sccm, and a gas exchange interval of $SF_6/C_4F_8=2s/3s$.

• Corrosion Science and Technology
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• v.2 no.5
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• pp.238-242
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• 2003

The characteristics of Ru etching using $O_2/Cl_2$ plasmas were investigated by employing inductively coupled plasma (ICP) etcher. The changes of Ru etch rate, Ru to $SiO_2$ etch selectivity and Ru electrode etching slope with the gas flow ratio, bias power, total gas flow rate, and source power were scrutinized. A high etching slope (${\sim}86^{\circ}$) and a smooth surface after etching was attained using $O_2/Cl_2$ inductively coupled plasma.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.07a
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• pp.859-862
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• 2001

This study describes a selective Ag etching solution for use with pattern on the surface of copper. This etching solution uses potassium iodide and potassium sulfate as the ligand that coordinates to the metal ions and ferricyanide as the oxidant. The etching rate was depended on the concentration of co-ligands and time. But the etching rate wasn't depended on the pH(2∼6), and oxidant(K$_3$Fe(CN)$\_$6/). Complete etching of silver can be achieved rapidly within 90sec for 4.46${\mu}$m thick metal films when aqueous solutions containing K$_3$Fe(CN)$\_$6/, K$_2$S$_2$O$\_$8/ and KI was used. This etching solution was characteristic of anisotropic etching.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.299-304
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• 2004

In recent years, silicon carbide has emerged as an important material for MEMS application. In order to fabricate an SiC film based MEMS structure by using chemical etching method, high operating temperature is required due to high chemical stability Therefore, dry etching using plasma is the best solution. SiC film was deposited by thermal CVD at the temperature of 100$0^{\circ}C$ and pressure of 10 torr. SiC was dry etched with a reactive ion etching (RIE) system, using SF$_{6}$/O$_2$ and CF$_4$/O$_2$ gas mixture. Etch rate has been investigated as a function of oxygen concentration in the gas mixture, rf power, working pressure and gas flow rate. Etch rate was measured by surface profiler and FE-SEM. SF$_{6}$/O$_2$ gas mixture showed higher etch rate than CF$_4$/O$_2$ gas mixture. Maximum etch rate appeared at RF Power of 450W. $O_2$ dilute mixtures resulted in an increasing of etch rate up to 40％, and the superior anisotropic cross section was observe

• Proceedings of the IEEK Conference
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• 2003.07b
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• pp.1033-1036
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• 2003

In this paper, Si anisotropic etching characteristics of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH)/ ammonium persulfate (AP) solutions were investigated to realize the optimum structure of a diaphragm for the piezoresistive pressure sensor application. Due to its low toxicity and its high compatibility with the CMOS processing, TMAH was used as Si anisotropic etchants. The variations of Si etch rate on the etching temperature, TMAH concentration, and etching time were obtained. With increasing the etching temperature and decreasing TMAH concentrations, the Si etch rate is increased while a significant non-uniformity exists on the etched surface because of formation of hillocks on the <100> surface. With the addition of AP to TMAH solution, the Si etch rate is increased and an improvement in flatness on the etching front is observed. The Si etch rate is also maximized with increasing the number of addition of AP to TMAH solution per one hour. The Si square diaphragms of 20${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ thickness and 100~400${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ one-side length were fabricated successfully by applying optimum Si etching conditions of TMAH/AP solutions.

• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.2 no.4
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• pp.19-22
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• 2003

In this paper, Si anisotropic etching characteristics of tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH)/ammonium persulfate (AP) solutions were investigated to realize the optimum structure of a diaphragm for the piezoresistive pressure sensor application. Due to its low toxicity and its high compatibility with the CMOS processing, TMAH was used as Si anisotropic etchants. The variations of Si etch rate on the etching temperature, TMAH concentration, and etching time were obtained. With increasing the etching temperature and decreasing TMAH concentrations, the Si etch rate is increased while a significant non-uniformity exists on the etched surface because of formation of hillocks on the <100> surface. With the addition of AP to TMAH solution, the Si etch rate is increased and an improvement in flatness on the etching front is observed. The Si etch rate is also maximized with increasing the number of addition of AP to TMAH solution per one hour. The Si square diaphragms of 20$\mu\textrm{m}$ thickness and 100-400 $\mu\textrm{m}$ one-side length were fabricated successfully by adding AP of (5/6)g to 800 ml TMAH solution every 10 minutes.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.58 no.3
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• pp.474-479
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• 2020

The etching solution for slimming of glass substrates was manufactured and HF was used as the main ingredient of wet etching solutions. Various types of strong acids such as HCl, HNO₃, H₂SO₄, amino acids and carboxylic acids such as citric acid, and etched solutions, respectively, were used to measure the etching rates and changes in surface shape of the glass. Regardless of the type of strong acids, the etching rate of the glass increased linearly as the added amount increased, and the sludge removal effect of the glass surface was also shown. The etching solution containing HCl showed more efficient results than other strong acids in the etching rate and the effect of removing sludge. The addition of carboxylic acid did not significantly affect the variation of etching rate, but had the effect of removing sludge. However, if amino acids were added, changes in etching rate and sludge removal were not significant.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.35 no.6
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• pp.507-514
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• 2003

Recently dry decontamination/surface-cleaning technology using plasma etching has been focused in the nuclear industry. In this study, the applicability of this new dry processing technique are experimentally investigated by examining the etching reaction of $UO_2$, Co, and Mo in r.f. plasma with the etchant gas of $CF_4/O_2$ mixture. $UO_2$ is chosen as a representing material for uranium and TRU (TRans-Uranic) compounds while metallic Co and Mo are selected because they are the principal contaminants in the used metallic nuclear components such as valves and pipes made of stainless steel or inconel. Results show that in all cases maximum etching rate is achieved when the mole fraction of $UO_2\;in\;CF_4/O_2$ mixture gas is $20\%$, regardless of temperature and r.f. power. In case of $UO_2$, the highest etching reaction rate is greater than 1000 monolayers/min. at $370^{\circ}C$ under 150 W r.f. power which is equivalent to $0.4{\mu}m/min$. As for Co, etching reaction begins to take place significantly when the temperature exceeds $350^{\circ}C$. Maximum etching rate achieved at $380^{\circ}C\;is\;0.06{\mu}m/min$. Mo etching reaction takes place vigorously even at relatively low temperature and the reaction rate increases drastically with increasing temperature. Highest etching rate at $380^{\circ}C\;is\;1.9{\mu}m/min$. According to OES (Optical Emission Spectroscopy) and AES (Auger Electron Spectroscopy) analysis, primary reaction seems to be a fluorination reaction, but carbonyl compound formation reaction may assist the dominant reaction, especially in case of Co and Mo. Through this basic study, the feasibility and the applicability of plasma decontamination technique are demonstrated.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.946-953
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• 1999

The etching characteristics of Er-doped sodium borosilicate glass film for the planar optical waveguides were investigated using reactive ion etching. The etch rate decreased as the pressure in creased but increased as the RF power increased. The etch rate increased as the flow rate C2F gas and the amount of O2 addition increased but decreased over critical point (C2F6 7,5 accm O2 20%) The etch rate was 180${\AA}$/min under C2F6 7.5 sccm O2 20% RF power 270 W, pressure 150 mTorr. With this optimum etching condition and subsequent heat treatment at 975$^{\circ}C$ for 30 minutes planar optical waveguides having improved sidewall roughness were fabricated successfully.