Abstract:
A method of etching features into a silicon layer with a steady-state gas flow is provided. An etch gas comprising an oxygen containing gas and a fluorine containing gas is provided. A plasma is provided from the etch gas. Then, the flow of the etch gas is stopped.
Abstract:
A solution for cleaning silicon semiconductors or silicon oxides, and methods for cleaning silicon semiconductors or silicon oxides using the solution, is disclosed. The solution includes hydrogen peroxide, ammonium hydroxide, an alkanolamine, and at least one of a tetraalkylammonium hydroxide, an alkanolamide, an amido-betaine, an c ca dihydroxyphenol, a carboxylic acid, a phosphonic acid, a chelating agent or a surfactant. The weight ratio of ammonium hydroxide to peroxide to water is between about 1:1:5 and 1:1-4:50, the weight ratio of ammonium hydroxide to water is between 1:5 and 1:50, and the molar ratio of component A to ammonium hydroxide is between 1:10 and 1:5000 is disclosed. The solution can achieve the efficiency equivalent to that of the conventional RCA two-step cleaning solution within a shorter time by one step preserving the silicon and silicon oxide substrate integrity and effectively remove contaminants such as organics, particles and metals from the surfaces of silicon semiconductors and silicon oxides without using strong acids such as HCI and sulfuric acid.
Abstract:
A process of etching openings in a dielectric layer includes supporting a semiconductor substrate in a plasma etch reactor, the substrate having a dielectric layer and a patterned photoresist and/or hardmask layer above the dielectric layer; supplying to the plasma etch reactor an etchant gas comprising (a) a fluorocarbon gas (CxFyHz, where x>=1, y>=1, and z>=0), (b) a silane-containing gas, hydrogen or a hydrocarbon gas (CxHy, where x>=1 and y>=4), (c) an optional oxygen-containing gas, and (d) an optional inert gas, wherein the flow rate ratio of the silane-containing gas to fluorocarbon gas is less than or equal to 0.1, or the flow rate ratio of the hydrogen or hydrocarbon gas to fluorocarbon gas is less than or equal to 0.5; energizing the etchant gas into a plasma; and plasma etching openings in the dielectric layer with enhanced photoresist/hardmask to dielectric layer selectivity and/or minimal photoresist distortion or striation.
Abstract:
A process of etching openings in a dielectric layer includes supporting a semiconductor substrate in a plasma reactor, the substrate having a dielectric layer and a patterned photoresist and/or hardmask layer above the dielectric layer; supplying to the plasma etch reactor an etchant gas comprising (a) a fluorocarbon gas (CxFyHz, where , and a hydrocarbon gas (CxHy, where an optional oxygen-containing gas, and (d) an optional inert gas, wherein the flow rate ratio of the hydrocarbon gas to fluorocarbon gas is less than or equal to 0.5; energizing the etchant gas into a plasma; and plasma etching openings in the dielectric layer with enhanced photoresis/hardmask to dielectric layer selectivity and/or minimal photoresist distortion or striation.
Abstract:
PROCESS FOR ETCHING DIELECTRIC FILMS WITH IMPROVED RESIST AND/OR ETCH PROFILE CHARACTERISTICS USING ETCH GAS WITH FLUOROCARBON AND HYDROGEN A process of etching openings in a dielectric layer includes supporting a semiconductor substrate (720) in a plasma etch reactor (700), the substrate having a dielectric layer and a patterned photoresist and/or hardmask layer above the dielectric layer; supplying to the plasma etch reactor (700) an etchant gas comprising (a) a fluorocarbon gas (CxFyHz, where x>=1, y>=l, and z>=0), (b) a silane-containing gas, hydrogen or a hydrocarbon gas (CxHy, where x>=1 and y>=4), (c) an optional oxygen-containing gas, and (d) an optional inert gas, wherein the flow rate ratio of the silane-containing gas to fluorocarbon gas is less than or equal to 0.1, or the flow rate ratio of the hydrogen or hydrocarbon gas to fluorocarbon gas is less than or equal to 0.5; energizing the etchant gas into a plasma; and, plasma etching openings in the dielectric layer with enhanced photoresist/hardmask to dielectric layer selectivity and/or minimal photoresist distortion or striation.