Patent ID: 6670278
Filing Date: 2003-12-30
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of plasma etching a layer of silicon carbide with selectivity to underlying and overlying low-k layers of dielectric material, the method comprising:positioning a semiconductor substrate in a reactor chamber, the substrate including a layer of silicon carbide and underlying and overlying layers of low-k dielectric material; supplying an etchant gas to the chamber, the etchant gas comprising at least one hydrogen-containing fluorocarbon gas, an oxygen containing gas, and optional carrier gas; and energizing the etchant gas into a plasma state and forming etched openings in the silicon carbide layer, the etched openings being defined by openings in the overlying layer of low-k dielectric material and the etched openings being over the underlying layer of low-k dielectric material, the silicon carbide layer being etched at a faster rate than the underlying and overlying layers of low-k dielectric material.