Abstract: Method for stripping photoresist from a semiconductor wafer including a layer of organosilicate dielectric. The method introduces a flow of hydrogen-containing gas to the wafer, and uses the hydrogen-containing gas to form a plasma in proximity with at least a portion of the wafer. The plasma is used to strip at least a portion of the photoresist from the wafer. Where the stripping of the photoresist from the semiconductor wafer is performed subsequent to an etching step performed on the wafer in an etch apparatus, the present invention in turn enables the stripping of the photoresist in situ within the etch apparatus. A surprising result of the present invention is that dramatically elevated concentrations of hydrogen gas not only enable high throughput strip rates, but that the utilization of these highly concentrated hydrogen gas mixtures can be performed in safety.

Abstract: Method for forming dual damascene etch structures in wafers, and semiconductor devices formed according to the method. The present invention utilizes the two-step etch process to form dual damascene structures in organosilicate dielectric layers. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a first etch step is undertaken utilizing a first, low selectivity etchant, which etches completely through the trench dielectric and almost completely through the via dielectric, leaving a small remainder of the via dielectric over the barrier layer protecting metalized objects protected by the barrier layer. After the first etch step, a second etch step is performed utilizing a second, highly selective etchant. This second etch step is conducted with little damage to the barrier layer. An alternative embodiment of the present invention contemplates a “trench-first” etch strategy.