Patent ID: 6387288
Filing Date: 2002-05-14
Classification: H01J

Abstract:
A method for scavenging etchant species from a plasma formed of etchant gas prior to the etchant gas entering a primary processing chamber of a plasma reactor, the method comprising the steps of:connecting a scavenging chamber at an outlet thereof to an etchant gas source and connecting the scavenging chamber at an inlet thereof to the primary processing chamber; flowing etchant gas through the scavenging chamber from the etchant gas source to the primary processing chamber of the plasma reactor; irradiating the interior of the scavenging chamber to create a plasma from etchant gas flowing therethrough; and disposing an etchant species scavenging source within the scavenging chamber to interact with the plasma to scavenge etchant species created by the dissociation of the etchant gas in the plasma and form etch byproducts comprised of substances from both the etchant species and the scavenging source.