Sungkyunkwan University

Min-jae Chung

Geun-Young Yeom

Do-haing Lee

Sae-hoon Chung

Sung-min Cho

A layer-by-layer etching apparatus and an etching method using a neutral beam which enables to control etching depth to an atomic level by controlling the etching of each atom of a material layer to be etched under precise control of the supply of an etching gas and irradiation of the neutral beam and enables to minimize etching damage. In the layer-by-layer etching method, a substrate to be etched, on which a layer to be etched is exposed, is loaded on a stage in a reaction chamber. An etching gas is supplied into the reaction chamber to adsorb the etching gas on the surface of an exposed portion of the layer to be etched. Excessive etching gas remaining after being adsorbed is removed. A neutral beam is irradiated on the layer to be etched on which the etching gas is adsorbed. Etch by-products generated by the irradiation of the neutral beam is removed.

Layer-by-layer etching apparatus using neutral beam and method of etching using the same

A damage-free apparatus for etching the large area by using a neutral beam which can perform an etching process without causing electrical and physical damages by the use of the neutral beam is provided. The damage-free etching apparatus includes: an ion source for extracting and accelerating an ion beam having a predetermined polarity; a grid positioned at the rear of the ion source and having a plurality of grid holes through which the ion beam passes; a reflector closely attached to the grid and having a plurality of reflector holes corresponding to the grid holes in the grid, the reflector for reflecting the ion beam passed through the grid holes in the reflector holes and neutralizing the ion beam into a neutral beam; and a stage for placing a substrate to be etched in a path of the neutral beam.

Growing community of inventors

Bucheon, South Korea

Min-jae Chung