Skip to main content

Free Standing Beams Made by Single Step Electrochemical Etching in Hydrofluoric Acid

  • Conference paper
Sensor Technology in the Netherlands: State of the Art

Abstract

This paper presents a new technique of micromachining using single step electrochemical etching in hydrofluoric acid(HF). Using this etching technique, free standing beams with height, width and length of 40μm, 2μm and 250μm, respectively, are made of single crystal silicon. Basic concept of this etching technique is a combination of anisotropic and isotropic etching mode. First, trenches are made at a certain current density. After the desired depth is obtained, the current density is increased to enlarge the trench width without effecting the width of existing trenches. Finally, the trenches are connected under the beams. Thus free standing beams are obtained. After connection of the trenches, electropolishing occurs under the beams, so smooth silicon surface and desired gap length are also obtained.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. A Uhlir, “Electrolytic shaping of germanium and silicon”, Bell Tech. J. 35, pp. 333–347, 1956.

    Google Scholar 

  2. D. R. Turner, “Electropolishing silicon in HF acid solutions”, J. Electrochem. Soc. 105, pp. 402–408, 1958.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. M. Esashi, H. Komatsu, T. Matsuo, M. Takahashi, T. Takishima, K. Imabayashi, and H. Ozawa, “Fabrication of catheter tips and sidewall miniature pressure sensors”, IEEE Trans. Electron Devices ED-29, pp. 57–63, 1982.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. T. E. Bell, P. T. J. Gennissen, D. DeMunter, and M. Kuhl, “Porous silicon as a sacrificial material”, J. Micromech. Microeng. 6, pp. 361–369, 1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. V. Lehmann, and U. Gosele, “Porous silicon formation: A quantum wire effect”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 58, pp. 856–858, 1991.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. V. Lehmann, “The physics of macropore formation in low doped n-type silicon”, J. Electrochem. Soc. 140, pp. 2836–2843, 1993.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  7. V. Lehmann, and H. Foll, “Formation mechanism and properties of electrochemically etched trenches in n-type silicon”,, J. Electrochem. Soc. 137, pp. 653–659, 1990.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. S. Ottow, V. Lehmann, and H. Foll, “Processing of three-dimensional microstructures using macroporous n-type silicon”, J. Electrochem. Soc. 143, pp. 385–390, 1996.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. V. Lehmann, “Porous silicon-a new material for MEMS”, IEEE MEMS Workshop’ 96, San Diego, USA, pp. 1–6, 1996.

    Google Scholar 

  10. H. Ohji, S. Lahteenmaki, and P. J. French, “Macro porous silicon formation for micromachining”, Proceedings SPIE, Micromachining and Microfabrication Process Technology III, Austin, Texas, USA, September 1997, pp. 189–197.

    Google Scholar 

  11. S. F. Chuang, S. D. Collins, and R. L. Smith, “Preferential propagation of pores during the formation of porous silicon: a transmission electron microscopy study”, Appl. Phys. Lett. 55, pp. 675–677, 1989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. M. J. J. Theunissen, “Etch channel formation during anodic dissolution of n-type silicon in aqueous hydrofluoric acid”, J. Electrochem. Soc. 119, pp. 351–360, 1972.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. R. L. Smith, and S. D. Collins, “Porous silicon formation mechanisms”, J. Appl. Phys. 71(8), pp. Rl–R22, 1992.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. X. G. Zhang, S. D. Collins, and R. L. Smith, “Porous silicon formation and electropolishing of silicon by anodic polarization in HF solution”, J. Electrochem. Soc. 136, pp. 1561–1565, 1989.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. P. Steiner, and W. Lang, “Micromachining application of porous silicon”, Thin Solid Films 225, pp. 52–58, 1995.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1998 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this paper

Cite this paper

Ohji, H., Trimp, P.J., French, P.J. (1998). Free Standing Beams Made by Single Step Electrochemical Etching in Hydrofluoric Acid. In: van den Berg, A., Bergveld, P. (eds) Sensor Technology in the Netherlands: State of the Art. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5010-1_32

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-5010-1_32

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-6103-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-5010-1

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics