Working with KOH: Difference between revisions

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Created page with "KOH belongs to the family of anisotropic Si-etchants based on aqueous alkaline solutions. The anisotropy stems from the different etch rates in different crystal directions. The {111}-planes are almost inert whereas the etch rates of e.g. {100}- and {110}-planes are several orders of magnitude faster. At NBI cleanroom, we use as standard a 28 wt% KOH solution. The etch rate and the selectivity towards a SiO2 mask depends on the temperature. We normally use a temperature..."
 
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At NBI cleanroom, we use as standard a 28 wt% KOH solution. The etch rate and the selectivity towards a SiO2 mask depends on the temperature. We normally use a temperature of 80°C but it may reduce it to, e.g., 60 °C or 70°C for a higher-precision timed etch.
At NBI cleanroom, we use as standard a 28 wt% KOH solution. The etch rate and the selectivity towards a SiO2 mask depends on the temperature. We normally use a temperature of 80°C but it may reduce it to, e.g., 60 °C or 70°C for a higher-precision timed etch.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Si(110) !! Etch rate (μm/min)
|-
| 60°C || 0.4
|-
| 70°C || 0.7
|-
| 80°C || 1.3
|-
|}

Revision as of 14:49, 9 September 2026

KOH belongs to the family of anisotropic Si-etchants based on aqueous alkaline solutions. The anisotropy stems from the different etch rates in different crystal directions. The {111}-planes are almost inert whereas the etch rates of e.g. {100}- and {110}-planes are several orders of magnitude faster.

At NBI cleanroom, we use as standard a 28 wt% KOH solution. The etch rate and the selectivity towards a SiO2 mask depends on the temperature. We normally use a temperature of 80°C but it may reduce it to, e.g., 60 °C or 70°C for a higher-precision timed etch.

Si(110) Etch rate (μm/min)
60°C 0.4
70°C 0.7
80°C 1.3