Patent · US Active

Decreasing the etch rate of silicon nitride by carbon addition

US7951730B2 · kind B2 · utility

3Cited by
75References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 4, 2009
Grant dateMay 31, 2011
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 4, 2029

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/02274
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods for forming silicon nitride hard masks are provided. The silicon nitride hard masks include carbon-doped silicon nitride layers and undoped silicon nitride layers. Carbon-doped silicon nitride layers that are deposited from a mixture comprising a carbon source compound, a silicon source compound, and a nitrogen source in the presence of RF power are provided. Also provided are methods of UV post-treating silicon nitride layers to provide silicon nitride hard masks. The carbon-doped silicon nitride layers and UV post-treated silicon nitride layers have desirable wet etch rates and dry etch rates for hard mask layers.

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