Patent · US Active

Methods for forming features in a material layer utilizing a combination of a main etching and a cyclical etching process

US9543163B2 · kind B2 · utility

113Cited by
44References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 21, 2013
Grant dateJan 10, 2017
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 21, 2033

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01J2237/334
  • WIPO fieldSemiconductors
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Methods for etching a material layer disposed on the substrate using a combination of a main etching step and a cyclical etching process are provided. The method includes performing a main etching process in a processing chamber to an oxide layer, forming a feature with a first predetermined depth in the oxide layer, performing a treatment process on the substrate by supplying a treatment gas mixture into the processing chamber to treat the etched feature in the oxide layer, performing a chemical etching process on the substrate by supplying a chemical etching gas mixture into the processing chamber, wherein the chemical etching gas includes at least an ammonium gas and a nitrogen trifluoride, wherein the chemical etching process further etches the feature to a second predetermined depth, and performing a transition process on the etched substrate by supplying a transition gas mixture into the processing chamber.

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