Tokyo Electron Limited

Akihiro Tsuji

Hikaru Watanabe

Masanobu Honda

An apparatus which selectively etches a first region with respect to a second region made of a material different from that of the first region. The apparatus is controlled to perform a first step for generating, in a processing container housing a workpiece to be treated, a plasma of a treatment gas from a gas supply including a fluorocarbon gas, an oxygen-containing gas, and an inert gas, and forming a deposit including fluorocarbon on the object to be treated, and a second step for etching the first region with radicals of the fluorocarbon included in the deposit. The apparatus is also controlled to perform the first step and the second step repeatedly.

Etching apparatus

The present disclosure relates to an etching method including: a first step of forming an etching assistance layer on a surface of at least one of a plurality of silicon-containing regions by plasma of a processing gas generated in a processing container; and a second step of imparting energy to the etching assistance layer. The energy is equal to or greater than energy at which the etching assistance layer is removed, and smaller than energy at which a region located immediately below the etching assistance layer is sputtered, and a sequence including the first step and the second step is executed repeatedly.

Etching method

An etching method is provided for selectively etching a first region of silicon oxide with respect to a second region of silicon nitride by performing plasma processing on a target object including the first region and the second region. In the etch method, first, a plasma of a processing gas including a fluorocarbon gas is generated in a processing chamber where the target object is accommodated. Next, the plasma of the processing gas including the fluorocarbon gas is further generated in the processing chamber where the target object is accommodated. Next, the first region is etched by radicals of fluorocarbon contained in a deposit which is formed on the target object by the generation and the further generation of the plasma of the processing gas containing the fluorocarbon gas. A high frequency powers used for the plasma generation is smaller than a high frequency power used for plasma further generation.

Plasma etching method for selectively etching silicon oxide with respect to silicon nitride

An etching method including: (a) providing a workpiece including a first region made of a first material and a second region made of a second material defining a recess, the first region filling the recess of the second region while covering the second region; (b) generating plasma of a first fluorocarbon gas to etch the first region until before exposing the second region; (c) generating plasma of a second fluorocarbon gas to form fluorocarbon deposits on the first region; (d) generating plasma of an inert gas to etch the first region by fluorocarbon radicals contained in the fluorocarbon deposits; and (e) repeating step (c) and step (d) one or more times until after exposing the second region. An etching rate of the first material of the first region is higher than that of the second material of the second region with respect to the second fluorocarbon gas.

Method of selectively etching silicon oxide film on substrate

There is provided an etching method for etching an antireflection film including silicon according to a pattern of a resist film by using plasma processing with respect to a processing object, the processing object including an etching object film, the antireflection film including silicon laminated on the etching object film, and the resist film laminated on the antireflection film including silicon. The method includes generating plasma of a processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas in a processing chamber, the processing object being disposed in the processing chamber, and generating plasma of a processing gas containing an inactive gas in the processing chamber, the processing object being disposed in the processing chamber. A set of the first generating and the second generating are repeatedly performed.

An etching method is provided for selectively etching a first region of silicon oxide with respect to a second region of silicon nitride. The target object includes the second region, the first region and a mask. The etching method includes a first sequence and a second sequence. Each of sequence includes, a first step of generating a plasma of a processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas in a processing chamber where the target object is accommodated and forming a deposit containing fluorocarbon on the target object, and a second step of etching the first region by radicals of fluorocarbon contained in the deposit. The first sequence is performed during a period including time when the second region is exposed, and an etching amount of the first region in the first sequence is smaller than an etching amount of the first region in the second sequence.

Etching method for selectively etching silicon oxide with respect to silicon nitride

There is provided a method for selectively etching a first region of silicon oxide with respect to a second region of silicon nitride by performing plasma processing on a target object including the second region formed to have a recess, the first region provided to fill the recess and to cover the second region, and a mask provided on the first region. The method includes: (a) generating a plasma of a processing gas containing a fluorocarbon gas in a processing chamber where the target object is accommodated and forming a deposit containing fluorocarbon on the target object; (b) generating a plasma of a processing gas containing an oxygen-containing gas and an inert gas in the processing chamber; and (c) etching the first region by radicals of fluorocarbon contained in the deposit. A sequence including the step (a), the step (b) and the step (c) is repeatedly performed.

Disclosed is a method of processing a workpiece so as to form an opening that extends from an oxide region to a base layer through a portion between the raised regions. The method includes: (1) a step of forming an opening in the oxide region to expose a second section between the raised regions; and (2) a step of etching a residue made of silicon oxide and existing within the opening and a second section. In the second step, a denatured region is formed by exposing the workpiece to plasma of a mixed gas including a hydrogen-containing gas and NFgas to denature the residue and the second section, and the denatured region is removed.

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Miyagi, Japan

Akihiro Tsuji