Method and system for etching a high-k dielectric material
A method for heating a substrate between a first process and a second process using a plasma is described. The heating method comprises thermally isolating the substrate on the substrate holder by removing the backside supply of a heat transfer gas and removing the clamping force. Furthermore, an inert gas, such as a Noble gas, is introduced to the plasma processing system and a plasma is ignited. The substrate is exposed to the inert plasma for a period of time sufficient to elevate the temperature of the substrate from a first temperature (i.e., typically less than 100° C.) to a second temperature (i.e., typically of order 400° C.).
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This non-provisional application relies for priority on and claims the benefit of the filing date of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/474,225, filed May 30, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
This non-provisional application also relies for priority on and claims the benefit of the filing date of co-pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/474,224, filed on May 30, 2003, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a method for heating a substrate, and more particularly to a method for heating a substrate using plasma.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the semiconductor industry, the minimum feature sizes of microelectronic devices are approaching the deep sub-micron regime to meet the demand for faster, lower power microprocessors and digital circuits. Process development and integration issues are key challenges for new gate stack materials and silicide processing, with the imminent replacement of SiO2 and Si-oxynitride (SiNxOy) with high-permittivity dielectric materials (also referred to herein as “high-k” materials), and the use of alternative gate electrode materials to replace doped poly-Si in sub-0.1 μm complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology.
Dielectric materials featuring a dielectric constant greater than that of SiO2 (k˜3.9) are commonly referred to as high-k materials. In addition, high-k materials may refer to dielectric materials that are deposited onto substrates (e.g., HfO2, ZrO2) rather than grown on the surface of the substrate (e.g., SiO2, SiNxOy). High-k materials may incorporate metallic silicates or oxides (e.g., Ta2O5 (k˜26), TiO2 (k˜80), ZrO2 (k˜25), Al2O3 (k˜9), HfSiO, HfO2 (k˜25)). During the manufacturing of semiconductor devices, the high-k layers must be etched and removed in order to allow silicidation for the source/drain regions, and to reduce the risk of metallic impurities being implanted into the source/drain regions during ion implantation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to a method for heating a substrate, and more particularly to a method and system for heating a substrate using plasma.
A method for heating a substrate on a substrate holder in a plasma processing system is described. The method comprises: introducing an inert gas to the plasma processing system, the inert gas comprises at least one of He, Ar, Xe, and Kr; igniting a plasma from the process gas; and exposing the substrate to the plasma for a period of time sufficient to elevate a temperature of the substrate above 200° C.
Another method of processing a substrate on a substrate holder in a plasma processing system is described. The method comprises: etching a first layer on the substrate at a first temperature; heating the substrate on the substrate holder to elevate the temperature of the substrate from the first temperature to a second temperature, wherein the heating comprises introducing an inert gas to the plasma processing system, the inert gas comprises at least one of He, Ar, Xe, and Kr, igniting a plasma from the process gas; and exposing the substrate to the plasma for a period of time sufficient to elevate the temperature of the substrate to the second temperature; and etching a second layer on the substrate at the second temperature.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSIn the accompanying drawings:
In material processing methodologies, the wide acceptance of high-k dielectric layers for gate-stacks has required more complex processes to etch such materials. Therein, conventional dry plasma etching of gate-stacks utilizes a set temperature for the substrate holder that, for a process recipe comprising multiple process steps, remains constant for all process steps. In general, since the substrate holder temperature is set by a heat exchanger and the heat exchanger inherently has a large thermal inertia, it has not been practical to alter the heat exchanger temperature between process steps. And consequently, it has not been practical to alter the substrate temperature between process steps.
However, it has become increasingly necessary for advanced gate-stack etching to have a variable substrate temperature between different process steps, within one process recipe. For example, in a gate-stack comprising a doped-poly/TaN/HfO2/Si stack, the doped-poly and TaN layers can be etched at 80° C., which is the setpoint temperature of the substrate holder. Yet, firstly, the selective etching of HfO2 on Si, could require a temperature well above 150° C. And, secondly, it is crucial to introduce a plasma chemistry having a parameter space sufficiently large that the HfO2 gate-dielectric layer can be dry plasma etched without attacking the underlying source/drain Si when it is exposed.
According to one embodiment, a plasma processing system 1 is depicted in
According to the embodiment depicted in
Substrate 25 can be, for example, affixed to the substrate holder 20 via an electrostatic clamping system 26. Furthermore, substrate holder 20 can, for example, further include a cooling system including a re-circulating coolant flow that receives heat from substrate holder 20 and transfers heat to a heat exchanger system (not shown), or when heating, transfers heat from the heat exchanger system. Moreover, a heat transfer gas can, for example, be delivered to the backside of substrate 25 via a backside gas distribution system 27 to improve the gas-gap thermal conductance between substrate 25 and substrate holder 20. Such a system can be utilized when temperature control of the substrate is desired at elevated or reduced temperatures. For example, the backside gas distribution system 27 can comprise a two-zone or three-zone (or, generically, multizone) gas distribution system, wherein the backside gas (gap) pressure can be independently varied between the center and the edge of substrate 25. In other embodiments, heating/cooling elements, such as resistive heating elements, or thermoelectric heaters/coolers can be included in the substrate holder 20, as well as the chamber wall of the plasma processing chamber 10 and any other component within the plasma processing system 1a.
In the embodiment shown in
Alternately, RF power is applied to the substrate holder electrode at multiple frequencies. Furthermore, impedance match network 50 serves to improve the transfer of RF power to plasma in plasma processing chamber 10 by reducing the reflected power. Match network topologies (e.g. L-type, π-type, T-type, etc.) and automatic control methods are well known to those skilled in the art.
Vacuum pump system 30 can, for example, include a turbo-molecular vacuum pump (TMP) capable of a pumping speed up to 5000 liters per second (and greater) and a gate valve for throttling the chamber pressure. In conventional plasma processing devices utilized for dry plasma etch, a 1000 to 3000 liter per second TMP is generally employed. For example, TMPs are useful for low pressure processing, typically less than 50 mTorr. For high pressure processing (i.e., greater than 100 mTorr), a mechanical booster pump and dry roughing pump can be used. Furthermore, a device for monitoring chamber pressure (not shown) can be coupled to the plasma processing chamber 10. The pressure measuring device can be, for example, a Type 628B Baratron absolute capacitance manometer commercially available from MKS Instruments, Inc. (Andover, Mass.).
Controller 14 comprises a microprocessor, memory, and a digital I/O port capable of generating control voltages sufficient to communicate and activate inputs to plasma processing system 1a as well as monitor outputs from plasma processing system 1a. Moreover, controller 14 can be coupled to and can exchange information with RF generator 40, impedance match network 50, the gas injection system (not shown), vacuum pump system 30, as well as the backside gas distribution system 27, the substrate/substrate holder temperature measurement system (not shown), and/or the electrostatic clamping system 26. For example, a program stored in the memory can be utilized to activate the inputs to the aforementioned components of plasma processing system 1a according to a process recipe in order to perform the method of etching a gate-stack comprising a high-k dielectric layer. One example of controller 14 is a DELL PRECISION WORKSTATION 610™, available from Dell Corporation, Austin, Tex.
The diagnostic system 12 can include an optical diagnostic subsystem (not shown). The optical diagnostic subsystem can comprise a detector such as a (silicon) photodiode or a photomultiplier tube (PMT) for measuring the light intensity emitted from the plasma. The diagnostic system 12 can further include an optical filter such as a narrow-band interference filter. In an alternate embodiment, the diagnostic system 12 can include at least one of a line CCD (charge coupled device), a CID (charge injection device) array, and a light dispersing device such as a grating or a prism. Additionally, diagnostic system 12 can include a monochromator (e.g., grating/detector system) for measuring light at a given wavelength, or a spectrometer (e.g., with a rotating grating) for measuring the light spectrum such as, for example, the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,888,337.
The diagnostic system 12 can include a high resolution Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) sensor such as from Peak Sensor Systems, or Verity Instruments, Inc. Such an OES sensor has a broad spectrum that spans the ultraviolet (UV), visible (VIS), and near infrared (NIR) light spectrums. The resolution is approximately 1.4 Angstroms, that is, the sensor is capable of collecting 5550 wavelengths from 240 to 1000 nm. For example, the OES sensor can be equipped with high sensitivity miniature fiber optic UV-VIS-NIR spectrometers which are, in turn, integrated with 2048 pixel linear CCD arrays.
The spectrometers receive light transmitted through single and bundled optical fibers, where the light output from the optical fibers is dispersed across the line CCD array using a fixed grating. Similar to the configuration described above, light emitting through an optical vacuum window is focused onto the input end of the optical fibers via a convex spherical lens. Three spectrometers, each specifically tuned for a given spectral range (UV, VIS and NIR), form a sensor for a process chamber. Each spectrometer includes an independent A/D converter. And lastly, depending upon the sensor utilization, a full emission spectrum can be recorded every 0.1 to 1.0 seconds.
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
Alternately, the plasma can be formed using electron cyclotron resonance (ECR). In yet another embodiment, the plasma is formed from the launching of a Helicon wave. In yet another embodiment, the plasma is formed from a propagating surface wave. Each plasma source described above is well known to those skilled in the art.
In the following discussion, a method of etching a gate-stack comprising a high-k dielectric layer utilizing a plasma processing device is presented. For example, the plasma processing device can comprise various elements, such as described in
An exemplary representation of a typical gate-stack can comprise polysilicon/HfO2/SiO2/Si with a TEOS hard mask. The silicon layer (Si) serves as the source/drain, and the SiO2 dielectric layer comprises a thin (˜5 Å) interfacial oxide that is sometimes incorporated to improve channel mobility while partially sacrificing the overall gate-dielectric K value. Table I presents an exemplary process recipe for etching through the polysilicon layer and the HfO2 layer, and stopping on the SiO2 layer.
For example, in Table I, BT represents a first process step for breaking through the native SiO2 layer; ME represents a second process step comprising the polysilicon main etching step; OE represents an over-etching process step; PPH represents a plasma pre-heat process step; DE represents a dielectric (HfO2) etching process step; and cool represents a substrate cool-down process step.
In the example illustrated in Table I, a plasma processing system as described in
The flow-rate (Q) listed for the DE step is merely an example reflecting the condition of high flow-rate (i.e., low residence time), where q, qq, qqq represent conventional values for the process gas flow rate(s) during the native oxide break-through step, the main etch step, and the over-etch step, respectively. The listed gases can be used to illustrate the approach of achieving selective HfO2/Si etching. BT, ME and OE process steps and their typical process parameters are understood to those skilled in the art of polysilicon etching, etc. During the cool-down step, RF power is removed to extinguish the processing plasma, and the substrate is cooled through electrostatic clamping (ESC) and backside (helium) heat transfer gas; typically 30 seconds is sufficient to lower the substrate temperature to the temperature of the substrate holder.
During plasma pre-heating (PPH), the substrate temperature is elevated from a temperature suitable for etching polysilicon (e.g., 80° C.) to a temperature more suitable for selective etching of HfO2 (e.g., 400° C.). When a substrate simply rests on the substrate holder (i.e., without clamping (via ESC), and backside gas), the substrate is substantially thermally isolated from the substrate holder and the surrounding processing chamber. For example,
Plasma pre-heating (PPH) of the substrate takes place when the substrate is thermally isolated (i.e., clamping force removed, and back-side gas pressure removed). In general, both ion bombardment and convective hot-neutrals contribute to the heating of the substrate and, to a lesser degree, electron (both thermal and ballistic) heating contributes to the heating process. In highly ionized plasmas (inductively coupled plasma (ICP), wave-heated, etc.), ion bombardment heating can dominate over convective hot-neutrals.
In capacitively coupled plasmas (CCP), convective hot-neutrals can be as significant as ion bombardment heating and, in some cases, hot-neutrals can be the dominant heating process. In one embodiment, the plasma pre-heating process comprises introducing an inert gas, such as He, Ar, Kr, and Xe, igniting a plasma from the inert gas, removing the clamping force from the substrate, and removing the back-side gas pressure from the substrate. For example,
In an example,
For selective HfO2-to-Si etching, it has been determined that reduction of oxygen (O) from the HfO2 can aid the etch rate. In general, HBr or HCl etches HfO2 faster than a pure halogen (Br2 or Cl2) alone. Therefore, the desired etchants are, for example, HBr, C2H4Br2, etc. Both carbon (C) and hydrogen (H) are strong reduction agents. Besides, (CH2)n polymer with caged-Br, can form on HfO2, enhancing the reduction process and subsequently enhancing the HfBrx formation process. All the Hf-halides are nonvolatile, with similar volatility. Therefore, ion bombardment is required to desorb HfBrx if standard etching temperature is used (e.g. 80° C.). However, high ion bombardment energy in a halogen-containing plasma leads to etching of the underlying silicon (Si) at a greater rate once the source/drain silicon (Si) is exposed. Therefore, the substrate temperature is raised using the PPH process step, since, as substrate temperature increases, HfBrx desorption increases exponentially. Yet, at high substrate temperature, the Si etch rate also increases exponentially in a pure halogen ambient and, hence, the need for the presence of reduction agents such as H and C.
In the HBr example, HBr can etch HfO2 efficiently; the presence of some gas-phase H would tie up the Br to reduce the Si etching rate. HBr under a low total RF-power condition is not an efficient Si etching condition; its strong ionic bond can tend to bind up free Br. In order to further reduce the Si etching rate, gases such as C2H4, C2H4Br2 can be added to HBr; the additive polymerizes on Si [e.g., (CH2)n] to further reduce the Si etching rate. Concurrently, such polymer does not impede HfO2 etching rate due to its reduction nature. Alternately, a gas such as C2H6 can be added to reduce the silicon etch rate. Alternately, diatomic hydrogen (H2) can be added to reduce the silicon etch rate. Alternately, another general method to slow down the Si etching rate is through the growth of SiN or SiO under high substrate temperature. This effect can be achieved through additives containing O and/or N, e.g. N2 or O2. However, process optimization would require that the presence of O and/or N does not negatively affect the HfO2 etching rate. Additionally, sufficient presence of C and H during HfO2 etching, can accelerate the thermal etch-rate through the aid of reduction.
For example, a HfO2 etch rate of 1649 A/min, and a HfO2-to-Si etch rate selectivity of 2.2 was achieved using the following recipe: PPH Step−upper electrode RF power=700 W; lower electrode RF power=900 W; substrate holder temperature=80° C.; electrode spacing−80 mm; pressure=50 mTorr; gas flow rate=500 sccm He, 2 sccm Cl2; no ESC clamping, no helium backside gas pressure; duration−90 seconds; HfO2 etch−upper electrode RF power=200 W; lower electrode RF power=50 W; substrate holder temperature=80° C.; electrode spacing−80 mm; pressure=5 mTorr; gas flow rate=105 sccm HBr; no ESC clamping, no helium backside gas pressure; duration=10 seconds; and COOL−substrate holder temperature=80° C.; electrode spacing−80 mm; pressure=50 mTorr; gas flow rate=500 sccm He; 1.5 kV ESC clamping, 10 Torr/10 Torr center-edge helium backside gas pressure; duration=30 seconds.
For selective HfO2-to-SiO2 etching, it has been determined that SiO2 etching in HBr plasma remains as ion-driven at high substrate temperature while HfO2 etching becomes one of chemical etching nature. As a result, a low lower electrode RF power condition under high substrate temperature is capable of chemically etching HfO2 at a high rate while etching SiO2 at a slower rate. Firstly, ion bombardment is essential to break the Si—O bond in order to perform any etching. In the case of C2H4 or C2H4Br2 additives, the polymer further protects the Si—O from ion bombardment and could slow the SiO2 etching rate even further.
For example, a HfO2 etch rate of 1649 A/min, and a HfO2-to-SiO2 etch rate selectivity of 25 was achieved using the following recipe: PPH Step−upper electrode RF power=700 W; lower electrode RF power=900 W; substrate holder temperature=80° C.; electrode spacing−80 mm; pressure=50 mTorr; gas flow rate=500 sccm He, 2 sccm Cl2; no ESC clamping, no helium backside gas pressure; duration−90 seconds; HfO2 etch−upper electrode RF power=200 W; lower electrode RF power=50 W; substrate holder temperature=80° C.; electrode spacing−80 mm; pressure=5 mTorr; gas flow rate=105 sccm HBr; no ESC clamping, no helium backside gas pressure; duration=10 seconds; and COOL−substrate holder temperature=80° C.; electrode spacing−80 mm; pressure=50 mTorr; gas flow rate=500 sccm He; 1.5 kV ESC clamping, 10 Torr/10 Torr center-edge helium backside gas pressure; duration=30 seconds.
The trace-Cl2 in PPH is to prevent surface contamination. In many cases, plasma processing systems can comprise quartz components. For example, contamination in pure-He PPH can comprise SiO from the quartz components. Trace-Cl2 in the PPH process step can prevent SiO from forming on the surface of HfO2 layer. Alternately, during a pure-He PPH, a BT process step (break through) can be inserted before the DE step. CF4 BT is known to be effective in removing the SiO2 from the high-k dielectric material surface.
In an embodiment, the method of etching a high-k dielectric layer, such as HfO2, comprises using a halogen containing gas such as at least one of HBr, Cl2, HCl, NF3, Br2, C2H4Br2, and F2. Additionally, the process gas can further comprise a reduction gas such as at least one of H2, C2H4, C2H4Br2, CH4, C2H2, C2H6, C3H4, C3H6, C3H8, C4H6, C4H8, C4H10, C5H8, C5H10, C6H6, C6H10, and C6H12. For example, a process parameter space can comprise a chamber pressure of 1 to 1000 mTorr (e.g., 5 mTorr), a halogen containing gas flow rate ranging from 20 to 1000 sccm (e.g., 50 sccm), a reduction gas flow rate ranging from 1 to 500 sccm (e.g., 50 sccm), an upper electrode RF bias ranging from 100 to 2000 W (e.g. 200 W), and a lower electrode RF bias ranging from 10 to 500 W (e.g., 50 W). Also, the upper electrode bias frequency can range from 0.1 MHz to 200 MHz, e.g., 60 MHz. In addition, the lower electrode bias frequency can range from 0.1 MHz to 100 MHz ( e.g., 2 MHz).
In 420, the clamping force applied to the substrate is removed. For example, the substrate can be either mechanically or electrically clamped to the substrate holder. In the former case, the mechanical clamp is relieved of its application of mechanical pressure to the substrate. In the latter case, the voltage applied to the electrostatic clamp electrode(s) by the high voltage DC source is removed. Once the backside gas pressure and the clamping forces are removed in 410 and 420, the substrate becomes substantially thermally isolated from the substrate holder when resting on the substrate holder in a vacuum environment.
In 430, a heating gas is introduced to the plasma processing system. In one embodiment, the heating gas can comprise an inert gas such as at least one of He, Ar, Kr, and Xe. In an alternate embodiment, the heating gas can further comprise a cleaning gas such as Cl2.
In 440, plasma is ignited, and, in 450, the substantially thermally isolated substrate is exposed to the plasma for a period of time. The plasma can be ignited utilizing any of the techniques discussed above in reference to
In 520, a process gas is introduced to the plasma processing system for etching a high-k dielectric layer, such as HfO2. In one embodiment, the process gas comprises a halogen-containing gas such as at least one of HBr, Cl2, HCl, NF3, Br2, C2H4Br2, and F2. In an alternate embodiment, the process gas further comprises a reduction gas such as at least one of H2, C2H4, C2H4Br2, CH4, C2H2, C2H6, C3H4, C3H6, C3H8, C4H6, C4H8, C4H10, C5H8, C5H10, C6H6, C6H10, and C6H12. In yet another alternate embodiment, the process gas further comprises at least one of an oxygen-containing gas and a nitrogen-containing gas, such as O2, N2, N2O, and NO2.
In 530, plasma is ignited, and, in 540, the high-k dielectric layer on the substrate is exposed to the plasma for a period of time. The plasma can be ignited utilizing any of the techniques discussed above in reference to
Although only certain embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention.
Claims
1. A method for heating a substrate on a substrate holder in a plasma processing system comprising:
- introducing an inert gas to said plasma processing system, said inert gas comprises at least one of He, Ar, Xe, and Kr;
- igniting a plasma from said process gas;
- removing a backside gas pressure from the backside of said substrate, said backside gas pressure is facilitated by a backside gas distribution system coupled to said substrate holder; and
- after said removing, exposing said substrate to said plasma for a period of time sufficient to elevate a temperature of said substrate above 200° C.
2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said temperature ranges from 300° to 500° C.
3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said temperature is substantially 400° C.
4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said backside gas distribution system is configured to supply a heat transfer gas to the backside of said substrate in order to improve the thermal conductance between said substrate and said substrate holder.
5. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
- removing a clamping force from said substrate, said clamping force facilitated by a clamping system coupled to said substrate holder.
6. The method as recited in claim 5, wherein said clamping system comprises at least one of a mechanical clamping system and an electrical clamping system.
7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said electrical clamping system comprises an electrostatic clamping system.
8. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:
- introducing a cleaning gas, said cleaning gas comprising Cl2.
9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said plasma processing system comprises an upper electrode coupled to a first RF generator configured to operate at a first frequency, and said substrate holder is coupled to a second RF generator configured to operate at a second frequency.
10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said substrate comprises a high-k dielectric layer.
11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said high-k dielectric layer comprises HfO2.
12. A method of processing a substrate on a substrate holder in a plasma processing system comprising:
- etching a first layer on said substrate at a first temperature;
- heating said substrate on said substrate holder to elevate the temperature of said substrate from said first temperature to a second temperature, wherein said heating comprises introducing an inert gas to said plasma processing system, said inert gas comprises at least one of He, Ar, Xe, and Kr, igniting a plasma from said process gas; and exposing said substrate to said plasma for a period of time sufficient to elevate the temperature of said substrate to said second temperature; and
- etching a second layer on said substrate at said second temperature.
13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said first temperature is less than 100C.
14. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said second temperature is greater than 200° C.
15. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein said second temperature ranges from 300° to 500° C.
16. The method as recited in claim 15, wherein said second temperature is substantially 400° C.
17. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said first layer comprises at least one of silicon, polysilicon, silicon dioxide, and TaN.
18. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said second layer comprises a high-k dielectric layer.
19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said high-k dielectric layer comprises HfO2.
20. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising:
- providing a backside gas pressure to the backside of said substrate during said etching of said first layer; and
- removing a backside gas pressure from the backside of said substrate following said etching of said first layer, said backside gas pressure is facilitated by a backside gas distribution system coupled to said substrate holder.
21. The method as recited in claim 20, wherein said backside gas distribution system is configured to supply a heat transfer gas to the backside of said substrate in order to improve the thermal conductance between said substrate and said substrate holder.
22. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising:
- providing a clamping force to said substrate during said etching said first layer; and
- removing a clamping force from said substrate following said etching said first layer, said clamping force facilitated by a clamping system coupled to said substrate holder.
23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein said clamping system comprises at least one of a mechanical clamping system and an electrical clamping system.
24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein said electrical clamping system comprises an electrostatic clamping system.
25. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising:
- introducing a cleaning gas during said heating of said substrate from said first temperature to said second temperature, said cleaning gas comprising Cl2.
26. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said plasma processing system comprises an upper electrode coupled to a first RF generator configured to operate at a first frequency, and said substrate holder is coupled to a second RF generator configured to operate at a second frequency.
27. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein a flow rate of said inert gas exceeds 400 sccm.
28. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein a pressure of said inert gas in said plasma processing system exceeds 20 mTorr.
29. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said etching said second layer comprises applying a backside gas pressure to the backside of said substrate, said backside gas pressure facilitated by a backside gas distribution system coupled to said substrate holder.
30. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein said etching said second layer comprises applying a clamping force to said substrate, said clamping force facilitated by a clamping system coupled to said substrate holder.
Type: Application
Filed: May 25, 2004
Publication Date: Jun 2, 2005
Applicant: Tokyo Electron Limited (Tokyo)
Inventors: Lee Chen (Cedar Creek, TX), Hiromitsu Kambara (Austin), Nobuhiro Iwama (Nirasaki-shi, MA)
Application Number: 10/853,026