Patent ID: 7171975
Filing Date: 2007-02-06
Classification: B01F,B01J,B01L,B81B,B81C,G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A method for etching an ultra-shallow channel, comprising the steps of: providing a substrate of a first material; forming a layer of a second material on at least part of said first material; selectively removing a portion of said second material such that said second material is completely removed in at least one area to expose at least one area of said first material and is at least partially persistent in areas adjacent to said at least one exposed area of said first material so as to provide direct etchant communication with said first material within said at least one exposed area and to prevent etchant communication with said first material in areas where said second material has not been completely removed, and such that said act of removing said portion of said second material does not significantly remove any of said first material; providing an etch process that is selective for said second material and selective to said first material, wherein said etch process preferentially etches said second material at a rate that is significantly greater than that at which said etch process would etch said first material; and applying said etch process to etch said first material to a desired depth of said ultra-shallow channel.