What is the chemical process involved in acidic etching of Mg for scanning electron microscopy (SEM)?5 answersThe chemical process involved in acidic etching of magnesium (Mg) for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) typically includes immersing the material in an acid solution to selectively remove unwanted sections from the surface. For magnesium alloys, wet etching using nitric acid solutions at different concentrations is a common method for micromachining, determining characteristics like thickness reduction and surface roughness. In the case of aluminum alloys, pickling and etching are crucial steps before anodization, requiring careful engineering of the etching process to prevent enrichment of alloying elements like Cu, which can interfere with subsequent treatments. Acid etching solutions may contain hydrochloric acid, ammonium chloride, copper chloride, and other components to ensure high-concentration copper dissolving and efficient etching.
How does the chemical etch rate vary with changes in temperature?4 answersThe chemical etch rate of silicon can vary with changes in temperature. In the wet chemical etching of silicon using concentrated HF-HNO3 and HF-HNO3-H2SiF6 mixtures, a significant temperature increase during the etching process can lead to an increase in the etch rate. This increase in temperature also changes the concentrations of dissolved nitrogen oxides and intermediary species, resulting in a change in the overall reaction process. Similarly, in the high-rate etching of Si by narrow-gap microwave hydrogen plasma, the etch rate strongly depends on the surface temperature. The optimum temperature for high-rate etching is about 70 °C, and an increase in temperature above this value leads to a decrease in etch rate. Additionally, in the etching of silicon dioxide using chlorine trifluoride gas, the etch rate tends to approach a constant value at temperatures exceeding 1173 K. Therefore, the etch rate of silicon can be influenced by temperature changes in different etching processes.
How does the wet etch rate vary with changes in temperature?4 answersThe wet etch rate of silicon varies with changes in temperature. Higher temperatures generally result in faster etch rates, while lower temperatures lead to slower etch rates. For example, in the study by Rietig et al., it was found that a noticeable increase in temperature during the etching process led to an increase in the etch rate. Similarly, Burham et al. observed that increasing the temperature of the Buffered Oxide Etch (BOE) solution improved the etching process in terms of both time needed and mask structure. In the study by Pal et al., it was discussed that elevating the temperature of the etchant, such as potassium hydroxide (KOH) or tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH), can increase the etch rate. Additionally, Kotěna et al. found that temperature gradients generated by the etching apparatus can be utilized to achieve specific and rapid etching of silicon wafers. Overall, these studies demonstrate that the wet etch rate of silicon is influenced by temperature, with higher temperatures generally resulting in faster etch rates.
How to etch Mo with ALE method?4 answersAtomic layer etching (ALE) of Mo can be achieved using a two-step process. In the first step, the Mo surface is fluorinated using CHF3 or C4F8 plasmas, resulting in the formation of a fluorine-rich fluorocarbon layer. This fluorinated Mo surface is then etched using Ar plasma. Another approach involves a sequential plasma oxidation and chlorination process. In the oxidation step, Mo is oxidized with oxygen plasma to form molybdenum oxide, and in the chlorination step, the molybdenum oxide is removed by forming molybdenum oxychloride in chlorine plasma. Additionally, a novel sequential etching method involving an oxidation step in ozone followed by selective oxide dissolution has been proposed for Mo etching. These methods offer improved etch-rate control, reduced surface roughness, and the ability to etch Mo in small dimensions.
How to etch SnO2 ?5 answersSnO2 can be etched using various methods. One method involves heating SnO2 nanoparticles within a spinodal line and separating them into titania and tinoxide, followed by eliminating the titania using an etching solution. Another method involves using a taper etching technique, where SnO2 films are etched using rf sputter etching with AZ-1350J photoresist patterns as masks. The taper angle of the SnO2 pattern can be controlled by changing the ratio of the sputter etching rate of the photoresist to the SnO2 film. Dislocation etchants have also been developed for etching SnO2 single crystals, with the correlation between etch pits and dislocations established. The shapes of pits produced by boiling HI on {110} faces can be analyzed for a correlation with dislocation characteristics. Additionally, a SnO2 photo anode can be manufactured using a method that involves various steps such as stirring stannous chloride and sodium carbonate in water, freezing and drying the obtained SnO2 powder, and using a scrape coating method to prepare a membrane. Finally, SnO2 can be etched using electrochemical methods, such as manipulating the pH value within the pores of a template to control the growth of one-dimensional metal oxide nanostructures.
Can Ni ions be deposited on the gold surface during Cu etching process?3 answersNi ions cannot be deposited on the gold surface during the Cu etching process. The abstracts do not provide any evidence or mention of Ni ions being deposited on the gold surface during Cu etching.