Abstract: A method for in-situ reduction of volatile residual contamination on a semiconductor process wafer following a plasma etching process including providing an ambient controlled chamber for accepting transfer of a semiconductor process wafer under controlled ambient conditions following a plasma etching process; providing a heat exchange surface disposed with the ambient controlled chamber in heat exchange relationship with means for heating the heat exchange surface; transferring a semiconductor process wafer having volatile residual contamination under controlled ambient conditions to the ambient controlled chamber; mounting the semiconductor process wafer in heat exchange relationship with the heat exchange surface; and, heating in-situ the heat exchange surface for a time period to thereby heat the semiconductor process wafer to vaporize the volatile residual contamination on the semiconductor process wafer while simultaneously removing a resulting vapor from the ambient controlled chamber.

Abstract: A method for in-situ reduction of volatile residual contamination on a semiconductor process wafer following a plasma etching process including providing an ambient controlled chamber for accepting transfer of a semiconductor process wafer under controlled ambient conditions following a plasma etching process; providing a heat exchange surface disposed with the ambient controlled chamber in heat exchange relationship with means for heating the heat exchange surface; transferring a semiconductor process wafer having volatile residual contamination under controlled ambient conditions to the ambient controlled chamber; mounting the semiconductor process wafer in heat exchange relationship with the heat exchange surface; and, heating in-situ the heat exchange surface for a time period to thereby heat the semiconductor process wafer to vaporize the volatile residual contamination on the semiconductor process wafer while simultaneously removing a resulting vapor from the ambient controlled chamber.

Abstract: A new method of patterning the polysilicon layer in the manufacture of an integrated circuit device has been achieved. A polysilicon layer is provided overlying a semiconductor substrate. The polysilicon layer may overlie a gate oxide layer and thereby comprise the polysilicon gate for MOS devices. A hard mask layer is provided overlying the polysilicon layer. A resist layer is provided overlying the hard mask layer. The resist layer is patterned to form a resist mask the exposes a part of the hard mask layer. The polysilicon layer is patterned in a plasma dry etching chamber. First, the resist layer is optionally trimmed by etching. Second, the hard mask layer is etched where exposed by the resist mask to form a hard mask that exposes a part of the polysilicon layer. Third, the resist mask is stripped away. Fourth, polymer residue from the resist mask is cleaned away using a chemistry containing CF4 gas. Fifth, the polysilicon layer is etched where exposed by the hard mask.

Abstract: A new method of patterning the polysilicon layer in the manufacture of an integrated circuit device has been achieved. A polysilicon layer is provided overlying a semiconductor substrate. The polysilicon layer may overlie a gate oxide layer and thereby comprise the polysilicon gate for MOS devices. A hard mask layer is provided overlying the polysilicon layer. A resist layer is provided overlying the hard mask layer. The resist layer is patterned to form a resist mask the exposes a part of the hard mask layer. The polysilicon layer is patterned in a plasma dry etching chamber. First, the resist layer is optionally trimmed by etching. Second, the hard mask layer is etched where exposed by the resist mask to form a hard mask that exposes a part of the polysilicon layer. Third, the resist mask is stripped away. Fourth, polymer residue from the resist mask is cleaned away using a chemistry containing CF4 gas. Fifth, the polysilicon layer is etched where exposed by the hard mask.