Patent ID: 6287975
Filing Date: 2001-09-11
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for limiting critical dimension growth of the width of a feature to be etched on a layer of a workpiece including the steps of:selecting a workpiece with a layer to be etched and a hard mask deposited over and protecting at least part of the layer to be etched, with the hard mask consisting of one of a reactive metal, with the exception of titanium, an oxide of a reactive metal, a nitride of a reactive metal, with the exception of titanium nitride, a fluoride of a reactive metal, a boride of a reactive metal, and a carbide of a reactive metal, and a compound comprising any combination of an oxide, a fluoride, a nitride, a carbide, and a boride of a reactive metal; andprocessing the workpiece in the reactor using an etch step and using the hard mask to limit critical dimension growth of the width of the feature etched on the layer during the etch step.