• Tribology and Lubricants
• /
• v.39 no.5
• /
• pp.197-202
• /
• 2023

Recently, research on experimental and analytical techniques utilizing microfluidic devices has been pursued. For example, lab-on-a-chip devices that integrate micro-devices onto a single chip for processing small sample quantities have gained significant attention. However, during sample preparation, unnecessary gases can be introduced into the internal channels, thus, impeding device flow and compromising specific function efficiency, including that of analysis and separation. Several methods have been proposed to mitigate this issue, however, many involve cumbersome procedures or suffer from complexities owing to intricate structures. Recently, some approaches have been introduced that utilize hydrophobic device structures to remove gases within channels. In such cases, the permeability of gases passing through the structure becomes a crucial performance factor. In this study, a method involving the deposition and sintering of diluted Ag-ink onto a silicon wafer surface is presented. This is followed by unstructured nano-pattern creation using a Metal Assisted Chemical Etching (MACE) process, which yields a nanostructured surface with unstructured pillar shapes. Subsequently, gas permeability in the spaces formed by these surface structures is investigated. This is achieved by experiments conducted to incorporate a pressure chamber and measure gas permeability. Trends are subsequently analyzed by comparing the results with existing theories. Finally, it can be confirmed that the significance of this study primarily lies in its capability to effectively evaluate gas permeability through unstructured pillar-like nanostructures, thus, providing quantitative values for the appropriate driving pressure and expected gas removal time in practical device operation.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.18 no.2
• /
• pp.74-77
• /
• 2017

In this work, we investigated the etching characteristics of TaNO thin films and the selectivity of TaNO to $SiO_2$ in an $O_2$/CF4/Ar inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system. The maximum etch rate of TaNO thin film was 297.1 nm/min at a gas mixing ratio of O2/CF4/Ar (6:16:4 sccm). At the same time, the etch rate was measured as a function of the etching parameters, such as the RF power, DC-bias voltage, and process pressure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed the efficient destruction of the oxide bonds by the ion bombardment, as well as the accumulation of low volatile reaction products on the etched surface. Based on these data, the ion-assisted chemical reaction was proposed as the main etch mechanism for the $CF_4$-containing plasmas.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2004.11a
• /
• pp.187-190
• /
• 2004

In this work, we investigated etching characteristics and mechanism of BST thin films using $Cl_2$/Ar, $CF_4/Cl_2$/Ar and $BCl_3/Cl_2$/Ar gas mixtures using inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system. A chemically assisted physical etch of BST was experimentally confirmed by ICP under various gas mixtures. The etch rate of the BST thin films had a maximum value at 20 $BCl_3$ and 10% $CF_4$ gas concentration, and decreased with further addition of $BCl_3$ or $CF_4$ gas, because $BaCl_x$, $SrCl_x$, $BaF_x$ and $SrF_x$ compounds have higher melting and boiling points. The maximum etch rate of the BST thin films was 57nm/min at the 30% $Cl_2(Cl_2+Ar)$. The characteristics of the plasma were analyzed by using OES and Langmuir probe.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.1-5
• /
• 2008

ZnS is an attractive material for future optical and electrical devices since it has a direct and wide band gap to provide blue emission at room temperature. In this study, inductively coupled $BCl_3/Ar$ plasma was used to etch ZnS:Mn thin films. The maximum etch rate of 164.2 nm/min for ZnS:Mn was obtained at a $BCl_3(20)/Ar(80)$ gas mixing ratio, an rf power of 700 W, a dc bias voltage of -200V, a total gas flow of 20 sccm, and a chamber pressure of 1Pa. The etch behaviors of ZnS:Mn thin films under various plasma parameters showed that the ZnS:Mn were effectively removed by the chemically assisted physical etching mechanism. The surface reaction of the ZnS:Mn thin films was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The XPS analysis revealed that Mn had detected on the surface ZnS:Mn etched in $BCl_3/Ar$ plasma.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.8 no.6
• /
• pp.229-233
• /
• 2007

In this study, we carried out an investigation of the etching characteristics(etch rate, selectivity) of $HfO_2$ thin films in the $CH_4/Ar$ inductively coupled plasma. It was found that variations of input power and negative dc-bias voltage are investigated by the monotonic changes of the $HfO_2$ etch rate as it generally expected from the corresponding variations of plasma parameters. At the same time, a change in either gas pressure or in gas mixing ratio result in non-monotonic etch rate that reaches a maximum at 2 Pa and for $CH_4(20%)/Ar(80%)$ gas mixture, respectively. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed an efficient destruction of the oxide bonds by the ion bombardment as well as showed an accumulation of low volatile reaction products on the etched surface. Based on these data, the ion-assisted chemical reaction was proposed as the main etch mechanism for the $CH_4-containing$ plasmas.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.322-325
• /
• 2003

BST thin films were etched with inductively coupled plasmas. A chemically assisted physical etch of BST was experimentally confirmed by ICP under various gas mixtures. After a 20 % addition of $BCl_3$ to the $Cl_2/Ar$ mixture, resulting in an increased the chemical effect. As a increases of RF power, substrate power, and substrate temperature, and decrease of working pressure, the ion energy flux and chlorine atoms density increased. The maximum etch rate of the BST thin films was 90.1 nm/min at the RF power, substrate power, working pressure, and substrate temperature were 700 W, 300 W, 1.6 Pa, and 20 $^{\circ}C$, respectively. It was proposed that sputter etching is dominant etching mechanism while the contribution of chemical reaction is relatively low due to low volatility of etching product.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.13 no.3
• /
• pp.144-148
• /
• 2012

In this work, we investigated to the etching characteristics of $TiO_2$ thin film and the selectivity using the inductively coupled plasma system. The etch rate and the selectivity were obtained with various gas mixing ratios. The maximum etch rate of $TiO_2$ thin film was 61.6 nm/min. The selectivity of $TiO_2$ to TiN, and $TiO_2$ to $SiO_2$ were obtained as 2.13 and 1.39, respectively. The etching process conditions are 400 W for RF power, -150 V for DC-bias voltage, 2 Pa for the process pressure, and $40^{\circ}C$ for substrate temperature. The chemical states of the etched surfaces were investigated with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Its analysis showed that the etching mechanism was based on the physical and chemical pathways in the ion-assisted physical reaction.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.6-9
• /
• 2012

In this study, we carried out an investigation of the etching characteristics (etch rate, selectivity to $SiO_2$) of ZnO thin films in $N_2/Cl_2$/Ar inductivity coupled plasma. A maximum etch rate and selectivity of 108.8 nm/min and, 3.21, respectively, was obtained for ZnO thin film at a $N_2/Cl_2$/Ar gas mixing ratio of 15:16:4 sccm. The plasmas were characterized by optical emission spectroscopy. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis showed the efficient destruction of oxide bonds by ion bombardment. An accumulation of low volatile reaction products on the etched surface was also shown. Based on this data, an ion-assisted chemical reaction is proposed as the main etch mechanism for plasmas containing $Cl_2$.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
• /
• 2003.07a
• /
• pp.31-36
• /
• 2003

We investigated dry etching of GaAs and AlGaAs in a high density planar inductively coupled plasma system with $BCl_3$ and $BCl_3/Ar$ gas chemistry. A detailed process study as a function of ICP source power, RIE chuck power and $BCl_3/Ar$ mixing ratio was performed. At this time, chamber pressure was fixed at 7.5 mTorr. The ICP source power and RIE chuck power were varied from 0 to 500 W and from 0 to 150 W, respectively. GaAs etch rate increased with the increase of ICP source power and RE chuck power. It was also found that etch rate of GaAs in $BCl_3$ gas with 25% Ar addition was superior to that of GaAs in a pure $BCl_3$ (20 sccm $BCl_3$) plasma. The result was same with AlGaAs. We expect that high ion-assisted effect in $BCl_3$/Ar plasma increased etch rates of both materials. The GaAs and AIGaAs features etched at 20 sccm $BCl_3$ and $15BCl_3/5Ar$ with 300 W ICP source power, 100 W RIE chuck power and 7.5 mTorr showed very smooth surfaces(RMS roughness < 2 nm) and excellent sidewall. XPS study on the surfaces of processed GaAs also proved extremely clean surfaces of the materials after dry etching.

• Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Materials
• /
• v.14 no.1
• /
• pp.12-15
• /
• 2013

In this study, we carried out an investigation of the etching characteristics (etch rate, and selectivity to $SiO_2$) of $ZrO_2$ thin films in a $CF_4$/Ar inductively coupled plasma (ICP) system. The maximum etch rate of 60.8 nm/min for $ZrO_2$ thin films was obtained at a 20 % $CF_4/(CF_4+Ar)$ gas mixing ratio. At the same time, the etch rate was measured as a function of the etching parameter, namely ICP chamber pressure. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed efficient destruction of the oxide bonds by the ion bombardment, as well as an accumulation of low volatile reaction products on the etched surface. Based on these data, the ion-assisted chemical reaction was proposed as the main etch characteristics for the $CF_4$-containing plasmas.