Patent ID: 6723665
Filing Date: 2004-04-20
Classification: B01D,C23C,C30B,H01L,Y02C,Y02P

Abstract:
A method for fabricating a semiconductor integrated circuit device having a polymetal gate electrode having an upper refractory metal gate electrode film and a lower silicon electrode film, comprising the steps of:(a) synthesizing water vapor, in a first temperature range not higher than a first temperature, from oxygen gas and hydrogen gas by use of a catalyst in a water vapor synthesizing portion, thereby forming synthesized water vapor; (b) transferring the synthesized water vapor into a single wafer heat treatment chamber, to form a mixed gas atmosphere containing hydrogen gas and said synthesized water vapor over a first major surface of a wafer inside the chamber, while keeping the synthesized water vapor in a gaseous state; (c) performing selective oxidation treatment of the gate electrode over the first major surface of the wafer, in the mixed gas atmosphere in the single wafer heat treatment chamber, by heating the first major surface of the wafer up to a second temperature range not lower than a second temperature higher than the first temperature with lamp heating, so as to oxidize a surface portion of the lower silicon electrode film without oxidizing the upper refractory metal gate electrode film; (d) discharging the mixed gas atmosphere from the heat treatment chamber; and (e) transforming the hydrogen gas contained in the discharged mixed gas atmosphere into water by treating the discharged mixed gas atmosphere with a catalyst in a third temperature range not higher than a third temperature lower than the second temperature.