Control of SiO.sub.2 etch rate using dilute chemical etchants in the presence of a megasonic field
US5919311A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 15, 1996 |
| Grant date | Jul 6, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 15, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L21/31111
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Processes for cleaning a silicon body and for controllably decreasing the thickness of a silicon dioxide layer overlying a silicon substrate are disclosed. The processes comprise chemically etching a silicon dioxide layer with a dilute etchant in the presence of a megasonic field. The concentration of the etchant is preferably less than its diffusion-rate-limiting threshold concentration at a given temperature. When aqueous alkaline hydroxyl ion etchants are employed, the concentration of etchant is preferably less than about 300 ppm by weight relative to water. The etching is discontinued before the silicon substrate is exposed to the etchant. The etch rate is controlled to within about 2.times.10.sup.-5 .mu.m/min (0.2 .ANG./min) of a target etch rate which ranges from about 3.times.10.sup.-5 .mu.m/min (0.3 .ANG./min) to about 4.times.10.sup.-4 .mu.m/min (4.0 .ANG./min). A simpler, more cost-effective chemical process for robustly cleaning silicon bodies or for producing very thin gate oxides is achieved.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.