Patent ID: 8119540
Filing Date: 2012-02-21
Classification: C23C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of forming a stressed passivation film, comprising: depositing a silicon nitride film over an integrated circuit structure on a substrate; embedding oxygen into a surface of the silicon nitride film by exposing the silicon nitride film to a process gas containing an oxygen-containing gas or an oxygen- and nitrogen-containing gas excited by plasma induced dissociation based on microwave irradiation via a plane antenna member having a plurality of slots, wherein the plane antenna member faces the substrate surface containing the silicon nitride film; embedding additional oxygen into the surface of the silicon nitride film by exposing the silicon nitride film to an additional process gas containing an oxygen-containing gas or an oxygen- and nitrogen-containing gas excited by a remote plasma source, wherein the silicon nitride film is not directly exposed to the remote plasma source; and heat-treating the oxygen-embedded silicon nitride film to form a stressed silicon oxynitride film.