Patent ID: 7745351
Filing Date: 2010-06-29
Classification: C23C,H01L

Abstract:
1. A method of creating a shallow trench isolation area on a substrate comprising: depositing an oxide layer on the substrate; depositing a nitride layer on the substrate and patterning the nitride layer to form a trench opening; etching a trench into the substrate at the trench opening; transferring the substrate into a substrate processing chamber and placing the substrate on a substrate support; depositing a dielectric layer over the substrate, filling the trench and covering the portions of the nitride layer adjacent to the trench; raising the substrate above the substrate support; exposing the substrate to a plasma that increases the tensile stress of the deposited dielectric layer; transferring the substrate out of the substrate processing chamber; removing portions of the dielectric layer to leave the dielectric layer even with the topmost nitride layer; and removing the nitride and pad oxide layers.