skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Application of cyclic fluorocarbon/argon discharges to device patterning

Journal Article · · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.4935460· OSTI ID:1224881
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [2];  [3];  [2];  [2];  [3]
  1. Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States); IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY (United States)
  2. IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY (United States)
  3. Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)

With increasing demands on device patterning to achieve smaller critical dimensions and pitches for the 5nm node and beyond, the need for atomic layer etching (ALE) is steadily increasing. In this study, a cyclic fluorocarbon/Ar plasma is successfully used for ALE patterning in a manufacturing scale reactor. Self-limited etching of silicon oxide is observed. The impact of various process parameters on the etch performance is established. The substrate temperature has been shown to play an especially significant role, with lower temperatures leading to higher selectivity and lower etch rates, but worse pattern fidelity. The cyclic ALE approach established with this work is shown to have great potential for small scale device patterning, showing self-limited etching, improved uniformity and resist mask performance.

Research Organization:
Univ. of Maryland, College Park, MD (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE
Grant/Contract Number:
SC0001939
OSTI ID:
1224881
Journal Information:
Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A, Vol. 34, Issue 1; ISSN 0734-2101
Publisher:
American Vacuum SocietyCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 15 works
Citation information provided by
Web of Science

Cited By (2)

Characterizing fluorocarbon assisted atomic layer etching of Si using cyclic Ar/C4F8 and Ar/CHF3 plasma journal September 2016
Cryo atomic layer etching of SiO 2 by C 4 F 8 physisorption followed by Ar plasma journal October 2019

Similar Records

Application of cyclic fluorocarbon/argon discharges to device patterning
Journal Article · Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. A, Vacuum, Surfaces and Films · OSTI ID:1224881

Fluorocarbon assisted atomic layer etching of SiO2 and Si using cyclic Ar/C4F8 and Ar/CHF3 plasma
Journal Article · Wed Nov 11 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology A · OSTI ID:1224881

Fluorocarbon assisted atomic layer etching of SiO{sub 2} and Si using cyclic Ar/C{sub 4}F{sub 8} and Ar/CHF{sub 3} plasma
Journal Article · Fri Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2016 · Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology. A, Vacuum, Surfaces and Films · OSTI ID:1224881