Hydrogen-free method of plasma etching indium tin oxide
US6368978B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 4, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 4, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02E10/50
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention is a method for hydrogen-free plasma etching of indium tin oxide using a plasma generated from an etchant gas containing chlorine as a major constituent (i.e., chlorine comprises at least 20 atomic %, preferably at least 50 atomic %, of the etchant gas). Etching is performed at a substrate temperature of 100° C. or lower. The chlorine-comprising gas is preferably Cl2. The etchant gas may further comprise a non-reactive gas, which is used to provide ion bombardment of the surface being etched, and which is preferably argon. The present invention provides a clean, fast method for plasma etching indium tin oxide. The method of the invention is particularly useful for etching a semiconductor device film stack which includes at least one layer of a material that would be adversely affected by exposure to hydrogen, such as N- or P-doped silicon.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.