Ultradeep, low-damage dry etching of SiC

The Schottky barrier height (Phi(B)) and reverse breakdown voltage (V-B) of Au/n-SiC diodes were used to examine the effect of inductively coupled plasma SF6/O-2 discharges on the near-surface electrical properties of SiC. For low ion energies (less than or equal to 60 eV) in the discharge, there is minimal change in Phi(B) and V-B, but both parameters degrade at higher energies. Highly anisotropic features typical of through-wafer via holes were formed in SiC using an Al mask. (C) 2000 American Institute of Physics. {[}S0003-6951(00)02606-1].