Patent ID: 7094700

Claim:
A plasma etching method comprising the acts of: forming a Ge x Se y chalcogenide comprising layer over a substrate; forming a mask over the Ge x Se y chalcogenide comprising layer, the mask comprising a sidewall; plasma etching the Ge x Se y chalcogenide comprising layer in the presence of an etching gas, the etching gas comprising at least one of NH3, N 2 H4, and C x H y the plasma etching forming a substantially vertical sidewall of the Ge x Se y chalcogenide comprising wherein x and y in C x H y respectively represents moles of carbon and hydrogen; layer which is aligned with a lateral outermost extent of the sidewall of the mask wherein x and y in Ge x Se y represents molar fractions, and wherein x and y in C x H y respectively represents moles of carbon and hydrogen.