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Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) Dry-Etch Process Development TF-013

Thin-Film Materials & Surface Engineering

Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) Dry-Etch Process Development

PhotoBattery can define, execute, and validate this work as a measurable engineering engagement - from specification freeze and method selection through evidence review, acceptance testing, and decision-ready recommendations.

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What this service does

Thin-Film Lithium Niobate (TFLN) Dry-Etch Process Development is a structured engineering service for organizations that need a defined technical answer, a validated process or test path, and evidence suitable for the next design, qualification, or investment decision. The work can address ICP-RIE/RIE chemistry selection; etch rate; sidewall angle; mask selectivity; redeposition control; sidewall roughness. PhotoBattery selects and applies ICP-RIE/RIE or DRIE tool; endpoint/OES monitoring; SEM/CD-SEM; profilometry; surface roughness metrology; environmental chamber, then evaluates the result against film/property uniformity target: typically ±2-5%; run-to-run repeatability: target ≤3-5% drift; surface roughness/stress within client limit; documented process window with pass/fail criteria.

Our team translates your technical objective into a controlled work package with the right tools, evidence, checkpoints, and acceptance criteria. You receive traceable results and a practical next-step recommendation rather than a generic assessment.

Engagements begin with the samples, architecture, process history, operating limits, and success metric you provide. We then confirm the test or engineering path, control measurement uncertainty, document dependencies and risks, and align the deliverables to the decision you need to make.

Catalogue reference: service TF-013, source page 10.

Service specifications

Service codeTF-013
Technical fieldThin-Film Materials & Surface Engineering
System under testICP-RIE/RIE chemistry selection; etch rate; sidewall angle; mask selectivity; redeposition control; sidewall roughness; feature fidelity; optical-loss reduction
Equipment & methodsICP-RIE/RIE or DRIE tool; endpoint/OES monitoring; SEM/CD-SEM; profilometry; surface roughness metrology; environmental chamber; thermal cycler
Required client inputssubstrate and full layer stack; target film thickness/properties; thermal and contamination limits; previous recipe/process history
Deliverablesoptimized recipe/process window; metrology dataset and maps; risk and compatibility notes; process-transfer document
Accuracy / target metricsfilm/property uniformity target: typically ±2-5%; run-to-run repeatability: target ≤3-5% drift; surface roughness/stress within client limit; documented process window with pass/fail criteria
Lead disciplineBest staffed by a Thin-film process engineer / materials scientist
Outputs and deliverables
  • optimized recipe/process window
  • metrology dataset and maps
  • risk and compatibility notes
  • process-transfer document
Client inputs and project setup
  • substrate and full layer stack
  • target film thickness/properties
  • thermal and contamination limits
  • previous recipe/process history

Best staffed by a Thin-film process engineer / materials scientist. Engagement should begin with a one-page specification freeze, sample/data access plan, and acceptance-metric agreement. Avoid claiming production readiness until repeatability, measurement uncertainty, and process ownership are documented.

Implementation risks and dependencies
  • interface contamination
  • process non-uniformity
  • thermal-budget conflict
  • stress/adhesion failure

Ready to define the work package?

Share the objective, available samples or data, constraints, and acceptance target.

Book TF-013