• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2012.02a
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• pp.408-408
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• 2012

It is well known that magnetic random access memory (MRAM) is nonvolatile memory devices using ferromagnetic materials. MRAM has the merits such as fast access time, unlimited read/write endurance and nonvolatility. Although DRAM has many advantages containing high storage density, fast access time and low power consumption, it becomes volatile when the power is turned off. Owing to the attractive advantages of MRAM, MRAM is being spotlighted as an alternative device in the future. MRAM consists of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack and complementary metal- oxide semiconductor (CMOS). MTJ stacks are composed of various magnetic materials. FePt thin films are used as a pinned layer of MTJ stack. Up to date, an inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching (ICPRIE) method of MTJ stacks showed better results in terms of etch rate and etch profile than any other methods such as ion milling, chemical assisted ion etching (CAIE), reactive ion etching (RIE). In order to improve etch profiles without redepositon, a better etching process of MTJ stack needs to be developed by using different etch gases and etch parameters. In this research, influences of $O_2$ gas on the etching characteristics of FePt thin films were investigated. FePt thin films were etched using ICPRIE in $CH_4/O_2/Ar$ gas mix. The etch rate and the etch selectivity were investigated in various $O_2$ concentrations. The etch profiles were studied in varying etch parameters such as coil rf power, dc-bias voltage, and gas pressure. TiN was employed as a hard mask. For observation etch profiles, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used.

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2011.02a
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• pp.77-77
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• 2011

These days, a growing demand for memory device is filled up with the flash memory and the dynamic random access memory (DRAM). Although DRAM is a reasonable solution for current demand, the universal novel memory with high density, high speed and nonvolatility, needs to be developed. Among various new memories, the magnetic random access memory (MRAM) device is considered as one of good candidate memories because of excellent features including high density, high speed, low operating power and nonvolatility. The etching of MTJ stack which is composed of magnetic materials and insulator such as MgO is one of the vital process for MRAM. Recently, MgO has attracted great interest in the MTJ stack as tunneling barrier layer for its high tunneling magnetoresistance values. For the successful realization of high density MRAM, the etching process of MgO thin films should be investigated. Until now, there were some works devoted to the investigations on etch characteristics of MgO thin films. Initially, ion milling was applied to the etching of MgO thin films. However, ion milling has many disadvantages such as sidewall redeposition and etching damage. High density plasma etching containing the magnetically enhanced reactive ion etching and high density reactive ion etching have been employed for the improvement of etching process. In this work, inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching (ICPRIE) system was adopted for the improvement of etching process using MgO thin films and etching gas mixes of $CH_4$/Ar and $CH_4$/$O_2$/Ar have been employed. The etch rates are measured by a surface profilometer and etch profiles are observed using field emission scanning emission microscopy (FESEM). The effects of gas concentration and etch parameters such as coil rf power, dc-bias voltage to substrate, and gas pressure on etch characteristics will be systematically explored.

• Journal of the Speleological Society of Korea
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• no.78
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• pp.29-31
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• 2007

This paper is devoted to a study of the characterization of the plasma state. For the purpose of monitoring plasma condition, we experiment on reactive ion etching (RIE) process. Without actual etch process, generated oxygen plasma, measurement of plasma emission intensity. Changing plasma process parameters, oxygen flow, RF power and chamber pressure have controlled. Using the optical emission spectroscopy (OES), we conform to the unique oxygen wavelength (777nm), the most powerful intensity region of the designated range. Increase of RF power and chamber pressure, emission intensity is increased. oxygen flow is not affect to emission intensity.

• Journal of Magnetics
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.132-137
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• 2010

Plasma etching of $SiO_2$ contact holes was statistically analyzed by a fractional factorial experimental design. The analysis revealed the dependence of the etch rate and DC self-bias voltage on the input factors of the magnetically enhanced reactive ion etching reactor, including gas pressure, magnetic field, and the gas flow rates of $CHF_3$, $CF_4$, and Ar. Empirical models of the DC self-bias voltage and etch rate were obtained. The DC self-bias voltage was found to be determined mainly by the operating pressure and the magnetic field, and the etch rate was related mainly to the pressure and the flow rates of Ar and $CHF_3$.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.236-243
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• 2004

The oxide etching process was characterized in a magnetically enhanced reactive ion etching (MERIE) reactor with a $CHF_3CF_4$ gas chemistry. A statistical experimental design plus one center point was used to characterize relationships between process factors and etch response. The etch response modeled are etch rate, etch selectivity to TiN and uniformity. Etching uniformity was improved with increasing $CF_4$ flow ratio, increasing source power, and increasing pressure depending on source power. Characterization of via etching in $CHF_3CF_4$ MERIE using neural networks was successfully executed giving to highly valuable information about etching mechanism and optimum etching condition. It was found that etching uniformity was closely related to surface polymerization, DC bias, TiN and uniformity.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.5 no.3
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• pp.263-267
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• 1996

Reactive ion etching of Pt thinfilm was studied using $CCl_2F_2$, Ar, and $O_2$ . Etch rate of the Pt increased as the total pressure decreases and the RF power increased, while the flow rate of $CCl_2F_2$ had little effect on the Pt etch rate. Addition of $O_2$ had no effect on Pt etch rate up to 20% $O_2$ Selectivity between Pt and photoresist increased as the pressure decreased and the RF power increased, making it possible to pattern a thicker Pt layer with a thinner photoresist. A maximum etch rate of 300$\AA$/min was obtained at $CCl_2F_2$ flow rate of 20 sccm. RF power of 400 W, and the total pressure of 60mTorr.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers Conference
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• 2001.07a
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• pp.741-744
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• 2001

This paper described on the fabrication of microstructures by DRIE(Deep Reactive Ion Etching). SOI(Si-on-insulator) electric devices with buried cavities are fabricated by SDB technology and electrochemical etch-stop. The cavity was fabricated the upper handling wafer by Si anisotropic etch technique. SDB process was performed to seal the fabricated cavity under vacuum condition at -760 mm Hg. In the SDB process, captured air and moisture inside of the cavities were removed by making channels towards outside. After annealing(1000$^{\circ}C$, 60 min.), the SDB SOI structure was thinned by electrochemical etch-stop. Finally, it was fabricated microstructures by DRIE as well as a accurate thickness control and a good flatness.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.485-490
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• 1994

The reactive ion etching characteristics of aluminum oxide films, prepared by PECVD, were investigated in the CCl4 plasma. The atomic chlorine concentration and the DC self bias were determined at various etching conditions, and their effects on the etch rate of aluminum oxide film were studied. The bombarding energy of incident particles was found to play the more important role in determining the etch rate of aluminum oxide rather than the atomic chlorine concentration. It is considered to be because the bombardment of ions or neutral atoms breaks the strong Al-O bonds of aluminum oxide to help activate the formation reaction of AlCl3 which is the volatile etch product.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.531-536
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• 2005

Inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching of CoTb and CoZrNb magnetic materials with the photoresist mask was performed using $Cl_2/Ar$ and $C_2F_6/Ar$ gas mixtures and characterized in terms of etch rate and etch profile. As the concentrations of $Cl_2$ and $C_2F_6$ gases increased, the etch rates of magnetic films decreased and the etch slopes became slanted. The $Cl_2/Ar$ gas was more effective in obtaining fast etch rate and steep sidewall slope than the $C_2F_6/Ar$ gas. As the coil rf power and dc bias increased, fast etch rate and steep etch slope were obtained but the redeposition on the sidewall was observed. This is due to the increase of ion and radical densities in plasma with increasing the coil rf power and the increase of incident ion energy to the substrate with increasing the dc bias voltage. By applying high density reactive ion etching to magnetic tunnel junction stack containing various magnetic films and metal oxide, steep etch slope and clean etch profile without redeposition were obtained.

• JSTS:Journal of Semiconductor Technology and Science
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.22-27
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• 2013

Detailed study on how the plasma process during the sidewall spacer formation suppresses the formation of silicide is done. In non-patterned wafer test, it is found that both fluorocarbon reactive ion etch (RIE) and TEOS plasma-enhanced deposition processes modify the Si surface so that the silicide reaction is chemically inhibited or suppressed. In order to investigate the cause of the chemical modification, we analyze the elements on the silicon surface through Auger Electron Spectroscopy (AES). From the AES result, it is found that the carbon induces chemical modification which blocks the reaction between silicon and nickel. Thus, protecting the surface from the carbon-containing plasma process prior to nickel deposition appears critical in successful silicide formation.