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Ion enhanced reactive etching of tungsten single crystals and films with XeF/sub 2/

Journal Article · · J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1116/1.574492· OSTI ID:6512579

The etching of W(100) single crystals and sputter-deposited tungsten films by XeF/sub 2/ has been investigated with and without inert gas ion bombardment. The surface fluorine was measured by Auger electron spectroscopy as a function of pressure (from low 10/sup -8/ to 10/sup -4/ Torr), and temperature (80--1300 K). The fluorine coverage was found to be near one monolayer at 170 K and decreased to 4% coverage at 1300 K. The pressure dependence showed a maximum coverage for sputter-deposited films at 6 x 10/sup -6/ Torr. Quartz-crystal microbalance measurements of etch rates of sputter-deposited W films under different ion fluxes, XeF/sub 2/ pressures, ion beam angles, and temperatures have been measured and are consistent with a kinetic model of the etch process. The model, which is damage driven, reproduces well both the surface fluorine concentration and the measured etch rates with and without ion bombardment.

Research Organization:
Department of Physics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas 77004
OSTI ID:
6512579
Journal Information:
J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States), Journal Name: J. Vac. Sci. Technol., A; (United States) Vol. 5:4; ISSN JVTAD
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English