Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Comp. Ltd.

Tsung-Chuan Chen

Ching-Tien Ma

Shew-Tsu Hsu

Chun-Liang Fan

A method for forming via openings or contact holes with improved aspect ratios by using a deep UV photoresist is described. In the method, after a deep UV photoresist layer is deposited on top of a thick oxide layer, the deep UV photoresist layer is pre-treated by a curing process with UV radiation for a time period of at least 1 min, and preferably between about 1 min and about 10 min at a temperature of at least 100&deg; C., and preferably at least 160&deg; C. The curing process stabilizes the structure of the deep UV photoresist material and thus reduces the formation of fluorocarbon polymers by the carbon component in the photoresist material and the fluorine component in the etchant gas, and subsequently, reduces the coating of such fluorocarbon polymers at the bottom of the via openings which would otherwise stop the etching process during via or contact formation.

Method for forming via and contact holes with deep UV photoresist

A method for improving a photolithographic patterning process in a dual damascene process including providing at least one via opening in a substrate including a low dielectric constant material; blanket depositing a photo-sensitive resinous layer to fill the at least one via opening; partially removing the photo-sensitive resinous layer to form an at least partially filled via plug; photo-curing the via plug such that an activating light source causes a polymer cross-linking chemical reaction; and, forming a trench line opening disposed substantially over the at least one via opening using a trench line photoresist to pattern the trench line opening.

Method for dual-damascene formation using a via plug

A plasma etching method for improving an aspect ratio including an etching profile including providing a substrate including an oxide containing insulating layer in a multilayer semiconductor device having at least a first underlying etching stop layer and at least a second etching stop layer overlying the oxide containing insulating layer; providing a patterned photoresist layer exposing an uppermost layer of the substrate for plasma etching; plasma etching through a thickness of at least a portion of the substrate; exposing the substrate to a polymerizing radiation source in at least a first curing process to initiate polymer cross-linking reactions; and plasma etching through at least another portion of a thickness of the substrate.

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Tainan, Taiwan

Tsung-Chuan Chen