High-Rate Dry Etching of ZnO in BCl₃/CH₄/H₂Plasmas

Abstract

High-rate dry etching characteristics of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (AZO) have been investigated in inductively coupled plasma (ICP) using BCl3/CH4/H2 plasma chemistry. Etch rates were measured as a function of BCl3 flow rate in BCl3/CH4/H2 mixture and dc-bias voltage. Measurement of etch rate, and etched sidewall profile were performed using a stylus profilometer and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The highest AZO etch rate about 310 nm/min, could be obtained near 80% BCl3 and at dc-bias voltage of -350 V.