Process for defining a chalcogenide material layer, in particular in a process for manufacturing phase change memory cells

摘要

A process for defining a chalcogenide material layer using a chlorine based plasma and a mask, wherein the portions of the chalcogenide material layer that are not covered by the mask are etched away. In a phase change memory cell having a stack of a chalcogenide material layer and an AlCu layer, the AlCu layer is etched first using a chlorine based plasma at a higher temperature; then the lateral walls of the AlCu layer are passivated; and then the chalcogenide material layer is etched at a lower temperature.