A method of etching metals and/or metal-containing compounds using a plasma comprising a bromine-containing gas. In one embodiment, the method is used during fabrication of a gate structure of a field effect transistor having a titanium nitride gate electrode, an ultra-thin (about 10 to 20 Angstroms) silicon dioxide gate dielectric, and a polysilicon upper contact. In a further embodiment, the gate electrode is selectively notched to a pre-determined width.