Method and apparatus for anisotropic etching
US8425789B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Oct 1, 2009 |
| Grant date | Apr 23, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L21/0337
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In anisotropic etching of the substrates, ultra-thin and conformable layers of materials can be used to passivate sidewalls of the etched features. Such a sidewall passivation layer may be a Self-assembled monolayer (SAM) material deposited in-situ etching process from a vapor phase. Alternatively, the sidewall passivation layer may be an inorganic-based material deposited using Atomic Layer Deposition (ALD) method. SAM or ALD s layer deposition can be carried out in a pulsing regime alternating with sputtering and/or etching processes using process gasses with or without plasma. Alternatively, SAM deposition is carried out continuously, while etch or sputtering turns on in a pulsing regime. Alternatively, SAM deposition and etch or sputtering may be carried out continuously. Both types of suggested passivation materials give advantage over state-of-the-art methods in ability to carefully control thickness and uniformity of the layers, thus enable anisotropic etching process for high aspect ratio nanosize features.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.