- Reactive ion etching (RIE) is a plasma-based technique for precisely removing material from a substrate. Activated gaseous species in the plasma are accelerated by an electrical bias to etch the surface. A mask is often used for selective patterning of the substrate.
- Inductively coupled reactive ion etching (ICPRIE) is ideal for deep silicon etching, essential for MEMS applications. It combines an inductively coupled plasma source with direct application of the plasma to the substrate, allowing greater precision and selectivity.
- Ion Beam Etching (IBE) uses a focused ion beam, usually argon, to remove material with high precision. The beam energy and angle can be adjusted to achieve uniform engraving on various materials.
Our partner Elettrorava has been designing and manufacturing thin film deposition machines in Italy for over 35 years.
REACTIVE ION ETCHING (RIE) - INDUCTIVE COUPLED PLASMA RIE (ICPRIE) - ION BEAM ETCHING (IBE)
Base pressure HV : < 1x10-6 mbar
Base pressure UHV :
- RIE and ICPRIE : < 1x10-8 mbar
- IBE : < 1x10-9 mbar
Pumping system :
- RIE and ICPRIE : Dry primary pump, High vacuum turbomolecular pump
- IBE : Turbomolecular, Cryo, TSP
Sources :
- RIE : DC, pulsed DC, RF
- ICPRIE : Inductively coupled plasma source
- IBE : Ion beam source (with or without grid)
Additional sources :
- RIE : N/A
- ICPRIE : Plasma source on substrate
- IBE : N/A
Deposition area : Up to 12”
Substrate handling :
- RIE and ICPRIE : N/A
- IBE : Rotation: up to 50 rpm, optional planetary configuration, Tilt: ±45°. Offset (Z or X): up to 100 mm
Process temperature :
- RIE, ICPRIE : Temperature range -40°C and 400°C
- IBE : Temperature range: -35°C to 300°C
Reactive process :
One or more reactive gases :
- RIE and ICPRIE : 02, H2, N2, C2H4, CF4, SF6, etc.
- IBE : O2 , H2 , N2 , etc.
Etching uniformity :
- RIE and ICPRIE : up to 10%
- IBE : up to 5%
Process control : In situ optical monitor or optical emission spectroscopy
Substrate load : Manual in the main chamber or by Load Lock with manual or automatic manipulator
Load lock : Single or multiple loading locks, manual or motorized with multiple substrate holders
Multi wafer loading : Optional multi-wafer cassette system for up to 25 wafers
Etched materials :
- RIE and ICPRIE : metals, oxides, nitrides, carbides, semiconductors, carbon-based materials, organics
- IBE : metals, oxides, nitrides, carbides, semiconductors, carbon-based materials
• Custom speakers
• ICP source (ion beam from 10 cm to 30 cm to choose from)
• Current density from 100 eV to 1500 eV)
• Simple auto or manual loading or from 5 or 25 wafer cassette
• Custom substrate holder
• Static, dynamic, planetary or oscillating deposits (0° to 75°)
• Substrate temperature possible from +5° to +600°C
• Up to 8 gas lines available
• Sas possible
• Possibility of anisotropic engraving and control of the engraving angle
• Dual-beam possibility (engraving and deposition/spraying)
• Automatic pumping
• End of engraving detection system (e.g. SIMS)
• Wafer up to 300 mm (more on request)