Semiconductor Plasma Equipment

ICP Inductively Coupled Etcher

High-density ICP etcher using dual RF sources for rapid, uniform etching of dielectrics, metals and compound semiconductors. Dual-chamber design minimizes contamination and ensures operator safety.

  • High-density plasma for fast, uniform etching.
  • Dual RF power for precise ion energy control.
  • Pre-vacuum and reaction chambers reduce contamination.

Tech Specs

Plasma Type Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP)
RF Sources Inductive RF generator for plasma + RF substrate bias generator
Chamber Configuration Pre-vacuum chamber and reaction chamber for contamination control
Main Components Reaction chamber, upper and lower electrodes, RF sources, vacuum system, gas control, cooling system, backside helium control, control software
Process Gases Configurable gas delivery for fluorine-, chlorine-, oxygen-based chemistries
Cooling System Closed-loop refrigeration for wafer and system temperature stability
Backside Helium Control Integrated He backfill and control for thermal conduction and chucking
Control & Software Recipe management, process monitoring, operator interface and automation support
Target Materials Oxides, nitrides, metals and III-V compound semiconductors (e.g., SiO₂, Si₃N₄, Al, GaAs)

Key Features

  • High-density Inductive Plasma Generation

    Generates a high-density reactive plasma using inductive coupling and dual RF sources to deliver fast, uniform etch rates across a variety of dielectric, metal, and compound semiconductor materials.

  • Dual RF Power Control System

    Independent inductive and substrate RF power supplies allow precise control over ion energy and plasma density, enabling highly anisotropic etching profiles and repeatable process tuning for advanced device fabrication.

  • Dual-chamber Contamination Control

    Pre-vacuum and reaction chambers minimize exposure to ambient contaminants and speed wafer transfer, improving yield and operator safety while maintaining a clean environment for high-throughput processes.

  • Backside Helium Thermal Management

    Integrated backside helium control and an active cooling system maintain wafer temperature uniformity during long etch cycles, preventing thermal drift and ensuring consistent critical dimension control across batches.

  • Comprehensive Process Gas Handling

    Advanced gas delivery, metering and control support a wide range of etch chemistries with high stability, enabling flexible process development from dielectric patterning to metal and III-V etching.

  • Intuitive Software and Automation

    User-friendly control software with recipe management, process monitoring and automation interfaces streamlines setup, reduces operator variability, and supports integration into fab MES and automation systems.

Plasma Cleaning Process

  • Plasma Generation

    Process gas is energized and converted into a reactive plasma containing ions, electrons, and radicals.

  • Plasma–Surface Interaction

    High-energy plasma species reach the material surface and interact with contaminants at the molecular level.

  • Chemical Reaction

    Reactive ions and radicals break down organic residues and surface contaminants through controlled chemical reactions.

  • Volatilization

    The reaction products are converted into volatile compounds and enter the gas phase.

  • Removal from Surface

    Gaseous by-products desorb from the surface and are evacuated, leaving a clean, activated material surface.