QUATERNARY SOLUTION FOR THE CHEMICAL ETCHING OF SILICON AND METHOD FOR ETCHING USING SUCH A SOLUTION

摘要

There are provided quaternary etchants comprising ethylenediamine, pyrocatechol, water and a diazine as catalyst for the etching of polycrystalline or single crystal silicon over a wide temperature and etch rate range. The etchants provide residue free dissolution, and have etch rates which are essentially unchanged when exposed to oxygen. The etch rate of the etchants can be modulated by the change in concentrations of water and/or pyrocatechol. There is also provided a method for etching polycrystalline or single crystal silicon using the etchants of this invention.