Patent ID: 6846745
Filing Date: 2005-01-25
Classification: C23C,H01J,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of filling gaps on a semiconductor substrate, the method comprising (a) providing a substrate in a process chamber of a chemical vapor deposition reactor; (b) depositing a dielectric layer that partially fills the gaps; (c) etching the dielectric layer with a plasma containing a fluorine-containing species; (d) after etching, passivating the dielectric layer by scavenging fluorine-containing species from the dielectric layer using a high-density plasma obtained using a molecular hydrogen containing process gas, wherein at least some of the passivating occurs without depositing dielectric and wherein the scavenged species were introduced by the etching in (c); and (e) depositing additional dielectric on the semiconductor substrate, using a high-density plasma.