Patent · US Expired

Method of etching a metal layer using a mask, a metallization method for a semiconductor device, a method of etching a metal layer, and an etching gas

US7226867B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
8References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 21, 2003
Grant dateJun 5, 2007
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 4, 2023

Classification

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

Abstract

Methods for etching a metal layer and a metallization method of a semiconductor device using an etching gas that includes Cl2 and N2 are provided. A mask layer is formed on the metal layer, the etching gas is supplied to the metal layer, and the metal layer is etched by the etching gas using the mask layer as an etch mask. The metal layer may be formed of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. Cl2 and N2 may be mixed at a ratio of 1:1 to 1:10. The etching gas may also include additional gases such as inactive gases or gases that include the elements H, O, F, He, or C. In addition, N2 may be supplied at a flow rate of from 45–65% of the total flow rate of the etching gas, which results in a reduction in the occurrence of micro-loading and cone-shaped defects in semiconductor devices.

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