Thermal atomic layer etching processes are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods comprise at least one etch cycle in which the substrate is alternately and sequentially exposed to a first vapor phase halide reactant and a second vapor halide reactant. In some embodiments, the first reactant may comprise an organic halide compound. During the thermal ALE cycle, the substrate is not contacted with a plasma reactant.

A method of manufacturing a metal wire, a method of manufacturing a metal wire grid, a wire grid polarizer, and an electronic device are provided. The method of manufacturing a metal wire includes: forming a metal material layer on a base substrate etching the metal material layer by using a composite gas including an etching gas and a coating reaction gas to form the metal wire and a protective coating layer on a surface of the metal wire.

A method of manufacturing a metal wire, a method of manufacturing a metal wire grid, a wire grid polarizer, and an electronic device are provided. The method of manufacturing a metal wire includes: forming a metal material layer on a base substrate etching the metal material layer by using a composite gas including an etching gas and a coating reaction gas to form the metal wire and a protective coating layer on a surface of the metal wire.

The etching method of the present invention includes the step of supplying a first mixed gas containing a β-diketone-containing etching gas and a nitrogen oxide gas to a target having, on a surface, both a first metal film containing cobalt, iron, or manganese and a second metal film containing copper, thereby selectively etching the first metal film over the second metal film, or the step of supplying a second mixed gas containing a β-diketone-containing etching gas and oxygen gas to the target, thereby selectively etching the second metal film over the first metal film.

Provided is a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus that can etch a metal film containing a transition metal element at high speed and with high accuracy by using a complexing gas. The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes: a vacuum container 60; a processing chamber 1 that is provided in the vacuum container, and includes a stage 4 on which a sample 3 formed with a metal film containing a transition metal element is placed; and a vaporization chamber 2 that is provided in the vacuum container, and includes a vaporizing nozzle unit 70 configured to vaporize a complexing gas raw material liquid supplied from an outside. A complexing gas obtained by vaporizing the complexing gas raw material liquid is introduced into the processing chamber to etch the metal film of the sample.

Provided is a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus that can etch a metal film containing a transition metal element at high speed and with high accuracy by using a complexing gas. The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus includes: a vacuum container 60; a processing chamber 1 that is provided in the vacuum container, and includes a stage 4 on which a sample 3 formed with a metal film containing a transition metal element is placed; and a vaporization chamber 2 that is provided in the vacuum container, and includes a vaporizing nozzle unit 70 configured to vaporize a complexing gas raw material liquid supplied from an outside. A complexing gas obtained by vaporizing the complexing gas raw material liquid is introduced into the processing chamber to etch the metal film of the sample.

Disclosed is a dry etching method which includes: a first step of bringing a processing gas containing a fluorine-containing interhalogen compound into contact with a material containing a specific metal element at a reaction temperature of 0° C. to 100° C., thereby forming a reaction product of the specific metal element and the fluorine-containing interhalogen compound as a solid product; and a second step of evaporating the solid product by heating the solid product in an inert gas atmosphere or vacuum atmosphere at a temperature higher than the reaction temperature of the first step, wherein the specific metal element is one or more kinds of elements selected from the group consisting of Ru, Ta, and Nb.

Atomic layer etching (ALE) processes are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods comprise at least one etch cycle in which a substrate comprising a metal, metal oxide, metal nitride or metal oxynitride layer is contacted with an etch reactant comprising an vapor-phase N-substituted derivative of amine compound. In some embodiments the etch reactant reacts with the substrate surface to form volatile species including metal atoms from the substrate surface. In some embodiments a metal or metal nitride surface is oxidized as part of the ALE cycle. In some embodiments a substrate surface is contacted with a halide as part of the ALE cycle. In some embodiments a substrate surface is contacted with a plasma reactant as part of the ALE cycle.

Following use of a reactive process chamber, a component of the chamber, such as an edge ring that is to surround a workpiece during an etching process, may be refurbished through one or more residue removal operations followed by a surface texturing operation. The texturing operation may entail media blasting with a gaseous media propellant comprising a smaller fraction of O.sub.2 than air, such as high purity dry N.sub.2. The more inert gaseous media propellant may advantageously control oxygen contamination of a bulk metal, such as aluminum. Reconditioning may further entail a chemical treatment, which thins or completely removes, a surface oxide present after the texturing operation. The conditioned surface may then have a surface composition and texture that is capable of matching the performance of a previously unused chamber component.

A method for manufacturing a micromechanical layer structure, including: providing a first protective layer patterned to have at least one opening which is filled with sacrificial layer material; depositing a functional-layer layer structure; producing a first opening in the functional-layer layer structure to at least one opening of the first protective layer, so that in at least one of the layers of the functional-layer layer structure; depositing a second protective layer so that the first opening is filled with material of the second protective layer; patterning the second protective layer and the filled first opening to have a second opening to the first protective layer, the second opening having the same or a lesser width than the first opening; removing sacrificial layer material at least in the opening of the first protective layer; and removing protective layer material at least in the second opening.