• Journal of the Semiconductor & Display Technology
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.72-77
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• 2021

The radial distribution of etch rate was analyzed using the ion energy flux model in VHF-CCP. In order to exclude the effects of polymer passivation and F radical depletion on the etching. The experiment was performed in Ar/SF6 plasma with an SF6 molar ratio of 80% of operating pressure 10 and 20 mTorr. The radial distribution of Ar/SF6 plasma was diagnosed with RF compensated Langmuir Probe(cLP) and Retarding Field Energy Analyzer(RFEA). The radial distribution of ion energy flux was calculated with Bohm current times the sheath voltage which is determined by the potential difference between the plasma space potential (measured by cLP) and the surface floating potential (by RFEA). To analyze the etch rate uniformity, Si coupon samples were etched under the same condition. The ion energy flux and the etch rate show a close correlation of more than 0.94 of R² value. It means that the etch rate distribution is explained by the ion energy flux.

• Journal of the Korean Ceramic Society
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• v.40 no.9
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• pp.886-890
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• 2003

The etching characteristics of a LiNbO$_3$ single crystal have been investigated using helicon wave plasma source with bias power and the mixture of CF$_4$, HBr, SF$_{6}$ gas parameters. The etching rate of LiNbO$_3$ with etching parameters was evaluated by surface profiler. The etching surface was evaluated by Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The surface morphology of the etched LiNbO$_3$ changed with bias power and the mixture of CF$_4$/Ar/Cl$_2$, HBr/Ar/Cl$_2$, and SF$_{6}$/Ar/Cl$_2$ parameters. Optimum etching conditions, considering both the surface flatness and etch rate were determined.

• Proceedings of the KIEE Conference
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• 1999.11d
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• pp.867-869
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• 1999

In this study, $SrBi_{2}Ta_{2}O_{9}$(SBT) thin films were etched as a function of $SF_6$/Ar gas mixing ratio in magnetically enhanced inductively coupled plasma(MEICP) system fer a fixed rf power, dc-bias voltage, and chamber pressure. The etch rate of SBT thin film was $1500{\AA}/min$ and the selectivities of photoresist (PR) and $SiO_2$ to SBT thin film were 0.48 and 0.62, respectively when the samples were etched at a rf power of 600W, a dc-bias voltage of -150V, a chamber pressure of 10 mTorr and a gas mixing ratio of $SF_6/(SF_6+A)$=0.1. In order to examine the chemical reactions on the etched surface, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and secondary ion mass spectrometry(SIMS) were done.

• Proceedings of the Materials Research Society of Korea Conference
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• 2007.11a
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• pp.103.2-103.2
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• 2007

• Proceedings of the Korean Vacuum Society Conference
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• 2016.02a
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• pp.430.2-430.2
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• 2016

The front transparent conductive oxide (TCO) films in thin fill solar cell should exhibit high transparency, conductivity, good surface morphology and excellent light scattering properties. The light trapping phenomenon is limited due to random surface structure of TCO films. The proper control of surface structure and uniform cauliflower TCO films may be appropriate for efficient light trapping. We report light trapping scheme of ICP-RIE glass texturing by SF6/Ar plasma for high roughness and haze ratio of ITO films. It was observed that the variation of etching time, pattern size and Ar flow ratio during ICP-RIE process were important factors to improve the diffused transmittance and haze ratio of textured glass. The ICP-RIE textured glass showed low etching rates due to the presence of metal elements like Al, B, F and Na. The ITO films deposited on textured glass substrates showed the high RMS roughness and haze ratio in the visible wavelength region. The change in surface morphology showed negligible influence on electrical and structural properties of ITO films. The ITO films with high roughness and haze ratio can be used to improve the performance of thin film solar cells.

• Journal of the Korean Crystal Growth and Crystal Technology
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• v.11 no.5
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• pp.231-237
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• 2001

Etch rates up to 120 nm/min for $Ta_{2}O_{5}$ were achieved in both $SF_{6}/Ar$ and $Cl_{2}/Ar$ discharges. The effect of ultraviolet (UV) light illumination during ICP etching on $Ta_{2}O_{5}$ etch rate in those plasma chemistries was examined and UV illumination was found to produce significant enhancements in $Ta_{2}O_{5}$ etch rates most likely due to photoassisted desorption of the etch products. The effects of ion flux, ion energy, and plasma composition on (Ba, Sr)$TiO_3$ etch rate were examined and maximum etch rate ~90 nm/min was achieved in $Cl_{2}/Ar$ ICP discharges while $CH_{4}/H_{2}/Ar$ chemistry produced extremely low etch rates (${\leq}10\;nm/min$) under all conditions.

• Journal of the Korean Vacuum Society
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• v.8 no.4A
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• pp.476-481
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• 1999

Characteristics of platinum dry etching were investigated in a cryogenic magnetized inductively coupled plasma (MICP). The problem with platinum etching is the redeposition of sputtered platinum on the sidewall. Because of the redeposits on the sidewall, the etching of patterned platinum structure produces feature sizes that exceed the original dimension of the PR size and the etch profile has needle-like shape [1]. The main object of this study was to investigate a new process technology for fence-free Pt etching As bias voltage increased, the height of fence was reduced. In cryogenic etching, the height of fence was reduced to 20% at-$190^{\circ}C$ compared with that of room temperature, however the etch profile was not still fence-free. In Ar/$SF_6$ Plasma, fence-free Pt etching was possible. As the ratio of $SF_6$ gas flow is more than 14% of total gas flow, the etch profile had no fence. Chemical reaction seemed to take place in the etch process.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.853-856
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• 2005

Inductively coupled plasma reactive ion etching of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stack, which is one of the key elements in magnetic random access memory, was studied. The MTJ stacks were patterned in nanometer size by electron(e)-beam lithography, and TiN thin films were employed as a hard mask. The etch process of TiN hard mask was examined using Ar, $Cl_2/Ar$, and $SF_6/Ar$. The TiN hard mask patterned by e-beam lithography was first etched and then the etching of MTJ stack was performed. The MTJ stacks were etched using Ar, $Cl_2/Ar$, and $BCl_3/Ar$ gases by varying gas concentration and pressure.

• Journal of the Korean institute of surface engineering
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.395-402
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• 2001

An induction thermal plasma system have been newly designed for advanced operation with a pulse modulated mode to control the plasma power in time domain and to create non-equilibrium effects such as fast quenching of the plasma to produce new functional materials in high rate. The system consists of MOSFET power supply with a maximum power of 50 kW with a frequency of 460 kHz, an induction plasma torch with a 10-turns coil of 80 mm diameter and 150 mm length and a vacuum chamber. The pulse modulated plasma was successfully generated at a plasma power of 30 kW and a high pressure of 100 kPa, with taking the on and off time as 10 ms, respectively. Measurements were carried out on the time-dependent spectral lines emitted from Ar species. The dynamic behavior of plasma temperature in a pulse cycle was estimated by the Boltzmann plot and the excitation temperature of Ar atom was found to be changed periodically from around 0.5 to 1.7 eV during the cycle. Two application regions of the induction thermal plasma newly generated were introduced to material processing with high rate synthesis based on non equilibrium effects, and to the finding of new arc quenching gases coming necessary for power circuit breaker, which is friendly with earth circumstance alternative to SF6 gas.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Telematics and Electronics A
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• v.30A no.7
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• pp.60-74
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• 1993

Experiments of RIE of tungsten films using SF$_{6}$ plasma were conducted to investigate the effect of process parameters on etch rate, uniformity, anisotropy, and selectivity. As power increased, the etch rate increased. Maximum etch rate was obtained at 200mtorr As interelectrode spacing increased the etch rate increased for P < 200mtorr while it decreased for P> 200mtorr. Etch rate was maximum at 20 sccm gas flow rate. As substrate temperature increased, the etch rate increased and activation energy was 0.046 eV. In addition, maximum etch rate was acquired at 20% $O_{2}$ addition. The etch rate slightly increased when Ar was added up to 20% while it continuously decreased when N$_{2}$ was added. Uniformity got improved as pressure decreased and was less than 4% for P <100mtorr. Mass spectrometer was utilized to analyze gas composition and S and F peaks were observed from XPS analysis with increasing power. The anisotropy was better for smaller power and spacing, and lower pressure and temperature. It improved when CH$_{4}$ was added and anisotropic etch profile was obtained when about 10% $O_{2}$ was added. The selectjvity was better for smaller power larger pressure and spacing, and lower temperature. Especially. low temperature processing was proposed as a novel method to improve the anisotropy and selectivity.