Patent · US Expired

Copper post-etch cleaning process

US6589882B2 · kind B2 · utility

10Cited by
16References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 24, 2001
Grant dateJul 8, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 24, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/76838
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The invention includes a method of cleaning a surface of a copper-containing material by exposing the surface to an acidic mixture comprising NO3−, F− and one or more organic acid anions having carboxylate groups. The invention also includes a semiconductor processing method of forming an opening to a copper-containing material. A mass is formed over a copper-containing material within an opening in a substrate. The mass contains at least one of an oxide barrier material and a dielectric material. A second opening is etched through the mass into the copper-containing material to form a base surface of the copper-containing material that is at least partially covered by particles comprising at least one of a copper oxide, a silicon oxide or a copper fluoride. The base surface is cleaned with a solution comprising nitric acid, hydrofluoric acid and one or more organic acids to remove at least some of the particles.

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