Integrated post-etch treatment for a dielectric etch process
US6379574B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 26, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 30, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 26, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01L21/31116
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present disclosure pertains to an integrated post-etch treatment method which is performed after a dielectric etch process. Using the method of the invention, byproducts formed on the sidewalls of contact vias during the dielectric etch process can be removed efficiently. The method of the invention also reduces or eliminates the problem of polymer accumulation on process chamber surfaces. An overlying photoresist layer and anti-reflection layer are removed during the performance of the post-etch treatment method. Typically, after the etch of a dielectric material to define pattern or interconnect filling spaces, a series of post-etch treatment steps is performed to remove residues remaining on the wafer after the dielectric etch process. According to the method of the present invention, a post-etch treatment method including one or more steps is performed after the dielectric etch process, preferably within the same processing chamber in which the dielectric etch process was performed. The post-etch treatment method comprises exposing a semiconductor structure to a plasma generated from a source gas comprising oxygen, a nitrogen-comprising gas, and a reactive gas comprising hy…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.