Patent · US Active

Etch process with controlled critical dimension shrink

US7838432B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
3References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 16, 2007
Grant dateNov 23, 2010
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 21, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/0276
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods to etch an opening in a substrate layer with reduced critical dimensions are described. A multi-layered mask including a lithographically patterned photoresist and an unpatterned organic antireflective coating (BARC) is formed over a substrate layer to be etched. The BARC layer is etched with a significant negative etch bias to reduce the critical dimension of the opening in the multi-layer mask below the lithographically define dimension in the photoresist. The significant negative etch bias of the BARC etch is then utilized to etch an opening having a reduced critical dimension into the substrate layer. To plasma etch an opening in the BARC with a significant negative etch bias, a polymerizing chemistry, such as CHF3 is employed. In a further embodiment, the polymerizing chemistry provide at low pressure is energized at a relatively low power with a high frequency capacitively coupled source.

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