NW
Bulk Surface TreatmentFabrication & Surface Engineering

ICP-RIE (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Reactive Ion Etching)

By Institut Catala de Nanociencia i Nanotecnologia (ICN2)

ICP-RIE (Inductively Coupled Plasma - Reactive Ion Etching) is a dry etching method that combines both chemical and physical etching to allow isotropic and anisotropic material removal. The etching process is carried out in chemically reactive plasma containing positively and negatively charged ions generated from gases that are pumped into the reaction chamber. A mask on top of the substrate is used to protect designated areas from etching, exposing only the areas to be etched. Dry etching offers excellent process control for cleanliness, homogeneity, etch-rate, etch-profile, selectivity and run-to-run consistency, which is critical for high-fidelity pattern-transfer in micro- and nano-system technologies. Process: ICP-RIE Type: Dry etching Chemistry used: Fluorine gases Instrument: Oxford PlasmaPro 100 Cobra