Patent ID: 6489247
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: C23F,H01L

Abstract:
A method of patterning a copper film on a substrate surface for use in semiconductor applications, wherein said patterning is accomplished by plasma etching, said method comprising:a) supplying a halogen-comprising plasma feed gas to a plasma etch chamber, wherein components of said plasma feed gas enable the application of sufficient hydrogen to an etched portion of a copper feature surface to protect said etched portion of said copper feature surface from reaction with reactive species during the etching of an adjacent copper feature surface, wherein at least 40% of said hydrogen applied to said etched portion of said copper feature surface is supplied by a halogen-comprising component of said feed gas, and wherein said halogen-comprising component is selected from the group consisting of HCl, HBr, and combinations thereof, and b) applying a plasma created from said plasma feed gas in a manner which provides a reactive species density sufficient to enable a copper etch rate of at least about 2,000 Ã¥ per minute.