Patent ID: 9209033
Filing Date: 2015-12-08
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
1. A gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) etching method for adjusting fin height in finFET devices, comprising: providing a substrate having a fin structure and a gap-fill material layer completely overlying said fin structure and filling the regions between each fin of said fin structure, wherein each fin includes a cap layer formed on a top surface thereof; planarizing said gap-fill material layer until said cap layer is exposed on at least one fin of said fin structure; setting a target fin height for said fin structure, said fin height measured from an interface between said cap layer and said fin structure; establishing a GCIB from an etching process composition according to a process condition that achieves an etch selectivity in excess of 1.5, said etch selectivity being defined as a ratio between an etch rate of said gap-fill material layer and an etch rate of said cap layer; and exposing said substrate to said GCIB and recessing said gap-fill material layer relative to said cap layer until said target fin height is substantially achieved.