Patent ID: 6017826
Filing Date: 2000-01-25
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method for forming a patterned layer within a microelectronics fabrication comprising:providing a substrate;forming over the substrate a blanket chlorine containing plasma etchable layer;forming upon the blanket chlorine containing plasma etchable layer a blanket hard mask layer;forming upon the blanket hard mask layer a patterned photoresist layer;etching the blanket hard mask layer to form a patterned hard mask layer while employing a first plasma etch method in conjunction with the patterned photoresist layer as a first etch mask layer, the first plasma etch method employing a first etchant gas composition appropriate to a hard mask material from which is formed the blanket hard mask layer;etching the blanket chlorine containing plasma etchable layer to form a patterned chlorine containing plasma etchable layer while employing a second plasma etch method in conjunction with at least the patterned hard mask layer as a second etch mask layer, the second plasma etch method employing a second etchant gas composition which upon plasma activation forms a chlorine containing etchant species and a sidewall passivation layer forming species, the patterned chlorine containing plasma etchable layer having incident to the second plasma etch method a sidewall passivation layer formed upon a sidewall of the patterned chlorine containing plasma etchable layer; andstripping from the sidewall of the patterned chlorine containing plasma etchable layer the sidewall passivation layer while sequentially oxidizing the sidewall of the patterned chlorine containing plasma etchable layer to form an oxidized chlorine containing plasma etchable material sidewall layer upon a partially oxidized patterned chlorine containing plasma etchable layer while employing a third plasma etch method, the third plasma etch method employing a third etchant gas composition which upon plasma activation forms an oxygen containing oxidizing species.