Patent ID: 6846424

Claim:
A plasma-assisted dry etching method for etching an Ir-based noble metal material, said method comprising: contacting the Ir-based noble metal material with an energized plasma composition comprising an etching species mixture for sufficient time to at least partially etch said Ir-based noble metal material, wherein the etching species mixture comprises (i) at least one halogenated compound selected from the group consisting of organic halogenated compounds, inorganic halogenated compounds and mixtures thereof, and (ii) an oxidizing agent selected from the group consisting of O 2 and O 2 gases, wherein the volumetric ratio of said at least one halogenated compound over said oxidizing agent is in a range of from about 4 to about 0.5, and wherein the energized plasma composition contacting the Ir-based noble metal material lacks nitrogen- and phosphorous-containing species.