Electron cyclotron resonance plasma etching of HgTe-CdTe superlattices grown by photo-assisted molecular beam epitaxy

Abstract

In order to form HgTe-CdTe superlattice diode arrays, a well-controlled etch process must be developed to form mesa structures on HgTe-CdTe superlattice layers. Wet etch processes result in nonuniform, isotropic etch profiles, making it difficult to control etch depth and diode size. In addition, surface films such as a Te-rich layer may result after wet etching, degrading diode performance. Recently, a dry etch process for HgTe-CdTe superlattice materials has been developed at Martin Marietta using an electron cyclotron resonance plasma reactor to form mesa diode structures. This process results in uniform, anisotropic etch characteristics, and therefore may be a better choice for etching superlattice materials than standard wet etch processes. In this paper, we will present a comparison of etch processes for HgTe-CdTe superlattice materials using electron microscopy, scanning tunneling microscopy, surface profilometry, and infrared photoluminescence spectroscopy to characterize both wet and dry etch processes.