Patent · US Expired

Polysilicon residue free process by thermal treatment

US6077776A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
7References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 18, 1998
Grant dateJun 20, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 18, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S438/906
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A new method of removing impurities and moisture from the surface of a wafer and thereby preventing polysilicon residue is described. A dielectric layer is provided over the surface of a semiconductor substrate. A polysilicon layer is deposited overlying the dielectric layer. A hard mask layer is deposited overlying the polysilicon layer and patterned to form a hard mask. The wafer is cleaned whereby moisture and impurities form on the surfaces of the hard mask and the polysilicon layer. Thereafter, the wafer is heat treated whereby the moisture and impurities are removed. Thereafter, the polysilicon layer is etched away where it is not covered by the hard mask to complete formation of a polysilicon line on a wafer in the fabrication of an integrated circuit.

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