Patent · US Expired

Ultra-thin resist and nitride/oxide hard mask for metal etch

US6020269A · kind A · utility

65Cited by
3References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 2, 1998
Grant dateFeb 1, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 2, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/32139
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a method of forming a metal line, involving the steps of providing a semiconductor substrate comprising a metal layer, an oxide layer over the metal layer, and a silicon nitride layer over the oxide layer; depositing an ultra-thin photoresist over the silicon nitride layer, the ultra-thin photoresist having a thickness less than about 2,000 .ANG.; irradiating the ultra-thin photoresist with electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of about 250 nm or less; developing the ultra-thin photoresist exposing a portion of the silicon nitride layer; etching the exposed portion of the silicon nitride layer exposing a portion of the oxide layer; etching the exposed portion of the oxide layer exposing a portion of the metal layer; and etching the exposed portion of the metal layer thereby forming the metal line.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.