Removal of MEMS sacrificial layers using supercritical fluid/chemical formulations
First Claim
1. A sacrificial silicon-containing layer etching composition, comprising a supercritical fluid (SCF), at least one co-solvent, at least one etchant species, and optionally at least one surfactant.
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Abstract
A method and composition for removing silicon-containing sacrificial layers from Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) substrates having such sacrificial layers is described. The etching compositions include a supercritical fluid, an etchant species, a co-solvent, and optionally a surfactant. Such etching compositions overcome the intrinsic deficiency of SCFs as cleaning reagents, viz., the non-polar character of SCFs and their associated inability to solubilize polar species that must be removed from the semiconductor substrate. The resultant etched MEMS substrates experience lower incidents of stiction relative to MEMS substrates etched using conventional wet etching techniques.
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Citations
38 Claims
- 1. A sacrificial silicon-containing layer etching composition, comprising a supercritical fluid (SCF), at least one co-solvent, at least one etchant species, and optionally at least one surfactant.
- 17. A method of removing silicon-containing substances from a substrate having same thereon, said method comprising contacting the substrate with a SCF-based composition comprising a SCF, at least one co-solvent, at least one etchant species, and optionally at least one surfactant, for sufficient time and under sufficient contacting conditions to remove the silicon-containing substances from the substrate.
Specification