Patent ID: 6337279
Filing Date: 2002-01-08
Classification: H01L

Abstract:
A method of fabricating a shallow trench isolation without forming micro-scratches in a surface thereof, comprising the steps of:providing a substrate having a mask layer formed thereon; patterning the mask layer and the substrate to form a trench in the substrate; forming a liner oxide layer on a portion of the substrate exposed by the trench; forming an isolation layer over the substrate to fill the trench; performing a densification process on the isolation layer; performing a chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) is performed to remove a portion of the isolation layer until exposing the mask layer to leave a remaining isolation layer; performing a post-CMP densification process on the remaining isolation layer after performing the CMP; and removing the mask layer, the pad oxide layer, and a portion of the remaining isolation layer to form an isolation plug in the trench.