Patent ID: 9735024
Date: 2017-08-15
CPC Classifications: H01J,H01L

Claim:
1. A method for etching a layer on a substrate placed in a reaction space by an atomic layer etching (ALE) process which comprises at least one etching cycle, wherein an etching cycle comprises: continuously providing a noble gas in the reaction space; providing a pulse of an etchant gas in the reaction space to chemisorb the etchant gas in an unexcited state on a surface of the substrate in a self-limiting manner, said etchant gas being a fluorocarbon gas containing a functional group with a polarity, said surface of the substrate being constituted by an oxide mineral or nitride mineral; and providing a pulse of a reactive species of a noble gas in the reaction space to contact the etchant gas-chemisorbed surface of the substrate with the reactive species so that the surface of the layer on the substrate is etched.