XeF2 Etch (Xetch)
| |||||||||||||||||||||
About
The applications of this tool are mainly in MEMS-device fabrication areas (releasing a MEMS structure by etching a sacrificial layer below), in which Si or Ge or even some metals, such as Mo, can be isotropically dry etched using gaseous XeF2 (no plasma enhancement or heating is needed) with the use of photoresist or SiO2 or Al as an etch mask at room temperature. For users who want to etch through or very deep into a Si wafer, they should use the Si Deep RIE tool in the lab. The XeF2 etch process is a purely chemical one and usually results in a rough etched surface. The tool is operated in a pulsed mode in which the etch chamber is repeatedly filled with XeF2 gas and, then, pumped out (to 0.3 Torr). You can also add N2 gas, together with XeF2 gas, into the etch chamber for some applications. There is a microscope attached to this tool, with which you can monitor the etch process of your sample. You can change the number of etch cycles during a run, which will be effective in that run. Also, you can manually stop a run based on microscope observations.