Patent ID: 7279427
Filing Date: 2007-10-09
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of removing post-etch residue from a substrate, comprising: disposing said substrate having a dielectric layer in a plasma processing system, wherein said dielectric layer has a feature formed therein using an etching process and said feature has said post-etch residue formed thereon by said etching process, and wherein said dielectric layer has a dielectric constant value less than the dielectric constant of SiO introducing a process gas comprising a nitrogen containing gas, a hydrogen containing gas, and an oxygen containing gas, wherein said oxygen containing gas comprises CO and/or CO forming a plasma from said process gas in said plasma processing system; and exposing said substrate to said plasma in order to remove said post-etch residue, while causing an insubstantial change in said dielectric constant value of said dielectric layer, wherein said exposing of said substrate to said plasma causes a loss of said etch stop layer of less than approximately 10% of the thickness of said etch stop layer.