Patent ID: 6235640
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for etching a contact hole through an oxide layer to a silicon layer of a substrate, said method being performed in a low pressure, high density plasma processing chamber, comprising:providing said substrate, including said silicon layer;positioning said substrate within said plasma processing chamber;performing a contact etch, said performing including etching said contact hole through said oxide layer to said silicon layer, said contact etch employing a first plasma comprising carbon species and fluorine species; andthereafter simultaneously stripping a photoresist mask that is provided above said oxide layer for said contact etch and soft etching a surface of said silicon layer at a bottom of said contact hole byflowing an etchant source gas comprising a fluorocarbon and O.sub.2 into said plasma processing chamber,forming a second plasma from said etchant source gas, andemploying said second plasma from said etchant source gas for said simultaneous stripping and soft etching.