Gas-phase tungsten etch
US9299575B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 17, 2014 |
| Grant date | Mar 29, 2016 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 17, 2034 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01J2237/334
- WIPO fieldSemiconductors
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Methods of evenly etching tungsten liners from high aspect ratio trenches are described. The methods include a remote plasma etch using plasma effluents formed from a fluorine-containing precursor and a high flow of helium. Plasma effluents from the remote plasma are flowed into a substrate processing region where the plasma effluents react with tungsten coating a patterned substrate having high aspect ratio trenches. The plasmas effluents react with exposed surfaces and evenly remove tungsten from outside the trenches and on the sidewalls of the trenches. The plasma effluents pass through an ion suppression element positioned between the remote plasma and the substrate processing region. Optionally, the methods may include concurrent ion bombardment of the patterned substrate to help remove potentially thicker horizontal tungsten regions, e.g., at the bottom of the trenches or between trenches.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.