Abstract: In the ozone-activated deposition of insulating layers, different growth rates can be achieved on differently constituted surfaces. When the surfaces of the structured silicon substrates lying at different levels are differently constituted or, respectively, are intentionally varied such that the SiO.sub.2 insulating layer grows more slowly on the higher surfaces than on the more deeply disposed surfaces and when deposition is carried out until the surfaces of the rapidly growing and slowly growing layer regions form a step-free, planar level, a local and global planarization is achieved.

Abstract: For cleaning parasitic layers of silicon oxides or nitrides in a reaction chamber, an etching gas mixture is employed in which at least one fluoridated carbon, particularly CF.sub.4 and/or C.sub.2 F.sub.6, is the main constituent. Then, an ozone/oxygen mixture (O.sub.3 /O.sub.2) having optimally high ozone concentration is added to the reaction chamber. The etching gas mixture is excited in the reaction chamber by triggering the etching gas mixture to form a plasma, having extremely low power with an excitation frequency in the RF range. The etching gas mixture etches all surfaces in the reaction chambers free of residues with a high etching rate.