Patent ID: 8440092

Claim:
A method for selectively etching a structure ( 1 ) comprising at least one first material to be etched ( 4 ) and at least one second material ( 2 ), comprising the following steps: choosing at least one chemical species capable of reacting with the first material ( 4 ) and of not reacting with the second material ( 3 ); choosing at least one soluble compound that does not react with said materials but which is able to release the aforementioned chemical species; producing a solution ( 11 ) containing said compound; immersing the structure ( 1 ) in the solution; and producing controlled ultrasound in the solution with at least a frequency between 100 kHz and 3 MHz and at a power capable of generating cavitation bubbles such that the chemical species is generated and reacts selectively with the first material, while producing a soluble compound or a precipitate.