Patent · US Active

Method of selectively removing a region formed of silicon oxide and plasma processing apparatus

US9502537B2 · kind B2 · utility

1Cited by
5References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 27, 2014
Grant dateNov 22, 2016
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 27, 2034

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01L21/31116
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Provided is a method of selectively removing a first region from a workpiece which includes the first region formed of silicon oxide and a second region formed of silicon. The method performs a plurality of sequences. Each sequence includes: forming a denatured region by generating plasma of a processing gas that contains hydrogen, nitrogen, and fluorine within a processing container that accommodates the workpiece so as to denature a portion of the first region, and removing the denatured region within the processing container. In addition, a sequence subsequent to a predetermined number of sequences after a first sequence among the plurality of sequences further includes exposing the workpiece to plasma of a reducing gas which is generated within the processing container, prior to the forming of the denatured region.

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