Patent ID: 11866831
Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
Field: Surface technology, coating (Chemistry)
Classification: CPC C  H | IPC C  H

Claim 0:
1. A method of etching, the method comprising:
receiving a substrate having a copper metal layer formed thereon, wherein an oxidized copper surface layer of the copper metal layer is exposed on a surface of the substrate;
exposing the surface of the substrate to a complexation solution comprising a carboxylic acid dissolved in an organic solvent, wherein the carboxylic acid reacts with the oxidized copper surface layer to form a copper carboxylate layer, which is insoluble within the organic solvent;
removing the complexation solution from the surface of the substrate subsequent to forming the copper carboxylate layer;
exposing the surface of the substrate to a dissolution solution to selectively remove the copper carboxylate layer and expose the copper metal layer underlying the copper carboxylate layer, wherein the dissolution solution comprises a reactive agent and an aqueous solvent, and wherein the reactive agent reacts with the copper carboxylate layer to form soluble species that are dissolved by the aqueous solvent; and
removing the dissolution solution and the soluble species from the surface of the substrate to etch the copper metal layer.