Patent ID: 6162733
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for removing contaminants from a semiconductor integrated circuit device comprising:a. providing a semiconductor device having at least one metal-containing layer or dielectric layer;b. placing the device within a chamber and subjecting the device to a halogen-based plasma etch;c. evacuating the chamber to a sub-atmospheric pressure after the halogen plasma etch;d. charging the chamber with an inert gas to a pressure above the sub-atmospheric pressure;e. evacuating the chamber;f. charging the chamber with a gas selected from the group consisting of N.sub.2, Ar, O.sub.2, and a H.sub.2 and N.sub.2 gas mixture to a pressure above the sub-atmospheric pressure and a chamber temperature and turning on an excitation source to form a plasma;g. turning off the excitation source and evacuating the chamber to the sub-atmospheric pressure; andh. charging the chamber with an inert gas to a pressure above the sub-atmospheric pressure.