Method for removing polymeric residue contamination on semiconductor feature sidewalls

Abstract

A method for improving a photolithographic patterning process to avoid undeveloped photoresist contamination in a semiconductor manufacturing process including providing a first semiconductor feature having an anisotropically etched opening including sidewalls. The first semiconductor feature further provide an overlying photoresist layer photolithographically patterned for anisotropically etching a second semiconductor feature opening overlying and encompassing the first semiconductor feature; blanket depositing a polymeric passivation layer over the overlying photoresist layer including covering at least a portion of the sidewalls including polymeric containing residues; and, removing the polymeric passivation layer including a substantial portion of the polymeric containing residues from at least a portion of the sidewalls prior to anisotropically etching the second semiconductor feature.