ScAlN etch mask for highly selective silicon etching

• Published in: Journal of vacuum science and technology. B, Nanotechnology & microelectronics Nanotechnology & microelectronics, 2017-09, Vol.35 (5)
• Main Authors: David Henry, Michael, Young, Travis R., Griffin, Ben
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: MATERIALS SCIENCE
• ISSN: 2166-2746; 2166-2754
• DOI: 10.1116/1.4994841

This work reports the utilization of a recently developed film, ScAlN, as a silicon etch mask offering significant improvements in high etch selectivity to silicon. Utilization of ScAlN as a fluorine chemistry based deep reactive ion etch mask demonstrated etch selectivity at 23 550:1, four times better than AlN, 11 times better than Al2O3, and 148 times better than silicon dioxide with significantly less resputtering at high bias voltage than either Al2O3 or AlN. Ellipsometry film thickness measurements show less than 0.3 nm/min mask erosion rates for ScAlN. Micromasking of resputtered Al for Al2O3, AlN, and ScAlN etch masks is also reported here, utilizing cross-sectional scanning electron microscope and confocal microscope roughness measurements. With lower etch bias, the reduced etch rate can be optimized to achieve a trench bottom surface roughness that is comparable to SiO2 etch masks. Etch mask selectivity enabled by ScAlN is likely to make significant improvements in microelectromechanical systems, wafer level packaging, and plasma dicing of silicon.