Abstract:
Disclosed is a process of using undoped silicon dioxide as an etch mask for selectively etching doped silicon dioxide for forming a designated topographical structure. In one embodiment, a doped silicon dioxide layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate. An undoped silicon dioxide layer is formed and patterned over the doped silicon dioxide layer. Doped silicon dioxide is selectively removed from the doped silicon dioxide layer through the pattern by use of a plasma etch or another suitable etch that removes doped silicon dioxide at a rate greater than that of undoped silicon dioxide. The process may be used to form contacts to the semiconductor substrate. The process may also be used to form a structure with a lower and an upper series of parallel gate stacks, where the gate stacks have upper surfaces consisting essentially of undoped silicon dioxide.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This Application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/846,671 entitled “Undoped Silicon Dioxide as Etch Stop for Selective Etch of Doped Silicon Dioxide,” filed on Apr. 30, 1997, now pending which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. The Field of the Invention 
     The present invention involves an etching process that utilizes an undoped silicon dioxide layer as an etch mask during a selective etch of a doped silicon dioxide layer that is situated on a semiconductor substrate. More particularly, the present invention relates to a process for depositing and patterning an undoped silicon dioxide layer over a doped silicon dioxide layer and conducting an etching process that is selective to undoped silicon dioxide, but not selective to doped silicon dioxide. 
     2. The Relevant Technology 
     Modern integrated circuits are manufactured by an elaborate process in which a large number of electronic semiconductor devices are integrally formed on a semiconductor substrate. In the context of this document, the term “semiconductor substrate” is defined to mean any construction comprising semiconductive material, including but not limited to bulk semiconductive material such as a semiconductive wafer, either alone or in assemblies comprising other materials thereon, and semiconductive material layers, either alone or in assemblies comprising other materials. The term substrate refers to any supporting structure including but not limited to the semiconductive substrates described above. The term doped silicon dioxide refers to a dopant concentration of at least 3 percent by weight of silicon dioxide. The term undoped silicon dioxide refers to a dopant concentration of less than 3 percent by weight of silicon dioxide. 
     Conventional semiconductor devices which are formed on a semiconductor substrate include capacitors, resistors, transistors, diodes, and the like. In advanced manufacturing of integrated circuits, hundreds of thousands of these semiconductor devices are formed on a single semiconductor substrate. In order to compactly form the semiconductor devices, the semiconductor devices are formed on varying levels of the semiconductor substrate. This requires forming a semiconductor substrate with a topographical design. 
     One common process for forming a topographical design on a semiconductor substrate involves etching of semiconductor material. Etching is typically conducted by depositing and patterning a layer of a masking material over the semiconductor material to be etched. The pattern formed on the layer of masking material defines a series of openings in the masking material and corresponds to the topographical design to be formed during the etching process. Next, an etching agent is applied to the semiconductor material through the pattern openings. In order to successfully form the topographical design, the etching agent must be selective to the masking material and not selective to the semiconductor material to be etched. In other words, the etching agent must remove a portion of the semiconductor material while leaving the masking material substantially intact. 
     Currently, photoresist material is commonly used as an etch mask. Use of photoresist material in an etch process involves depositing and patterning the photoresist material, applying an etching agent, and removing the photoresist material. Etching is performed using any of a number of processes known in the art, including gaseous, plasma and wet etch processes. 
     Sometimes double layers of photoresist material are required for forming topographical features. For example, a topographical structure design might call for successive etch processes on upper layers in a first region and a second region of the semiconductor material, then the bottom layers in the first region only. In such a case, a patterned photoresist layer is deposited (on the upper layer) with openings at both the first and second regions. The upper layers are first etched in the opening at the first and second regions. Next, a second patterned photoresist layer is positioned on the first layer. The second layer has openings only in the first region, but covers the second region. An etch agent then removes semiconductor materials of the bottom layers only in the first region. The second region is protected by photoresist so that the bottom layers in this second region will not be etched. 
     Each step required for forming topographical features on a semiconductor material makes the finished product more expensive to produce. Application and removal of photoresist material or other masking material as currently practiced in semiconductor device manufacturing adds expense and complexity to the process. 
     It is apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an etch mask that does not need to be removed after the etching process is finished. Additionally, it would be advantageous to provide an etching process that eliminates using two layers of photoresist material in situations where two are presently required. A process is also needed for etching semiconductor material located under existing topographical structures where traditional masking materials cannot be applied and removed or where it would be cumbersome to do so. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a process for selectively etching a semiconductor material to form a designated topographical structure thereon utilizing an undoped silicon dioxide layer as an etch mask. In one embodiment, a doped silicon dioxide layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate. An undoped silicon dioxide layer is then formed and patterned over the doped silicon dioxide layer. The pattern on the undoped silicon dioxide layer comprises one or more openings, trenches, or other similar structures and exposes a portion of the doped silicon dioxide layer. The doped silicon dioxide layer is selectively removed through the pattern to form an opening, thereby creating a topographical structure using any etching agent that is selective to undoped silicon dioxide, but not selective to doped silicon dioxide. Preferably, a plasma etching process is used. The undoped silicon dioxide layer acts as an etch mask during the etching process. This embodiment provides the advantage that the undoped silicon dioxide layer does not need to be removed after the etching process is completed. 
     The process in this embodiment may be practiced with or without interleaving layers between the doped and undoped silicon dioxide layers. These interleaving layers may be any of a number of materials including a conductor material and a refractory metal silicide. Optionally, another undoped silicon dioxide layer may be positioned under the doped silicon dioxide layer to serve as an etch stop during etching. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, an undoped silicon dioxide layer is used as an etch mask in combination with a photoresist layer for successive etching of a first and a second region on a doped silicon dioxide layer. In this embodiment, a doped silicon dioxide layer is formed over a semiconductor substrate. An undoped silicon dioxide layer is formed and patterned over the doped silicon dioxide layer to provide openings over both the first and second regions. Next, a photoresist layer is deposited over the undoped silicon dioxide layer. The photoresist layer is patterned to provide openings over the first region, while covering the second region. 
     In this embodiment, the doped silicon dioxide is etched in the first region. The etchant used is not selective to doped silicon dioxide, but is selective to undoped silicon dioxide and to photoresist material. Next, the photoresist layer is stripped, exposing the pattern openings over the second region. Finally, the second region is etched while the undoped silicon dioxide layer acts as an etch mask. This process provides the advantage of using only one layer of photoresist material instead of two as has conventionally been needed. 
     In still another embodiment of the invention, a lower series of gate stacks is formed over a semiconductor substrate. A doped silicon dioxide layer is deposited over the lower series of gate stacks. Next, an upper series of gate stacks is formed over the doped silicon dioxide layer. Each gate stack belonging to the upper series has a cap composed of substantially undoped silicon dioxide that defines the gate stack&#39;s top surface. Preferably, each gate stack belonging to the lower series also has a cap composed of substantially undoped silicon dioxide, but may have a cap of some other suitable material, such as silicon nitride. 
     The gate stacks have a multi-layer structure which may comprise a gate oxide situated over a silicon substrate; a polysilicon layer over the gate oxide; and a refractory metal silicide, preferably tungsten silicide, over the polysilicon and under the cap. The gate stacks also have spacers preferably made of substantially undoped silicon dioxide. 
     The gate stacks of the upper series are preferably aligned parallel to one another. The gate stacks of the lower series are also preferably in parallel alignment. The upper series of gate stacks may be aligned parallel to, orthogonal to, or otherwise in relation to the lower series of gate stacks. 
     This embodiment further involves applying an etchant to the doped silicon dioxide through spaces provided between the gate stacks. The etchant is not selective to doped silicon dioxide, but is selective to undoped silicon dioxide. The caps of the upper series of gate stacks therefore act as an etch mask in this embodiment. Likewise, if undoped silicon dioxide caps have been used on the lower series of gate stacks act, these caps act as an etch stop. Moreover, undoped silicon dioxide spacers of the upper and lower series of gate stacks may act as etch masks and etch stops, respectively. This embodiment provides the advantage of allowing the above-described structure to be formed where conventional etch mask materials could not be applied or where it would be especially difficult to do so. 
     The present invention contemplates novel structures formed by use of the inventive process. In particular, the process is used to form a lower series of parallel gate stacks overlaid by an upper series of gate stacks, each gate stack having an undoped silicon dioxide cap and undoped silicon dioxide spacers. In a preferred embodiment, the upper series of gate stacks is orthogonal to the lower series of gate stacks. The gate stacks of the upper series may serve as bit lines, while the gate stacks of the lower series may be word lines. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In order that the manner in which the above-recited and other advantages and objects of the invention are obtained, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of one embodiment of a multi-layer structure prior to an etch, the multi-layer structure including a silicon substrate, a doped silicon dioxide layer, and a patterned undoped silicon dioxide layer. The region of selective doped silicon dioxide removal is shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of another embodiment of a multi-layer structure prior to an etch including a silicon substrate, layers of substantially doped silicon dioxide, polysilicon, tungsten silicide, and a patterned layer of substantially undoped silicon dioxide. The region of selective removal of doped silicon dioxide is shown in phantom. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of another embodiment of a multi-layer structure prior to etch. The structure includes a series of gate stacks positioned on a silicon substrate, a layer of substantially doped silicon dioxide, and patterned structures consisting of layers of polysilicon, tungsten silicide, and substantially undoped silicon dioxide. A patterned layer of photoresist material is formed on the layer of substantially undoped silicon dioxide and fills the pattern in the undoped silicon dioxide in the second region. The selective removal of doped silicon dioxide in the first region is shown in phantom on the left side of FIG.  3 . 
     FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of a gate stack such as is seen in FIG.  3 . The gate stack has successive layers of gate oxide, polysilicon, tungsten silicide, and substantially undoped silicon dioxide supported by a silicon substrate. The gate stack also has lateral undoped silicon dioxide spacers. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional elevation view of a first and second layer of gate stacks before substantially doped silicon dioxide has been selectively removed. The portion of the substantially doped silicon dioxide to be removed is indicated in phantom. In this embodiment the gate stacks of the first layer are parallel to those of the second layer. 
     FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a structure formed after substantially doped silicon dioxide is etched. The structure has a first layer of gate stacks supported by a silicon substrate. The gates stacks in the first layer are parallel one with another. The structure also has a second layer of gate stacks supported by the first layer and by substantially doped silicon dioxide that remains after the etching process is conducted. The gate stacks of the second layer are likewise parallel one with another. The individual gate stacks of the first layer are oriented orthogonal to the gate stacks of the second layer in this embodiment. 
     FIG. 7 is a top view of the structure seen in FIG.  6 . This view illustrates openings that are rectangular in cross section, are situated between the first and second layers of gate stacks, and that represent portions of a doped silicon dioxide layer that have been selectively removed during an etching process. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The inventive process described herein is directed towards selectively utilizing an etch system on a doped silicon dioxide (SiO 2 ) layer with a undoped silicon dioxide layer as an etch mask. One application of the inventive process is to form a self-aligned contact. The present invention also discloses an inventive multilayer gate structure. 
     As illustrated in FIG. 1, one embodiment of a multilayer structure  10  is formed that comprises a semiconductor substrate  12 . Semiconductor substrate  12  preferably comprises silicon. Overlying semiconductor substrate  12  is a doped silicon dioxide layer  22 . Preferably, doped silicon dioxide layer  22  is substantially composed of borophosphosilicate glass (BPSG), borosilicate glass (PSG), or phosphosilicate glass (BSG). Most preferably, doped silicon dioxide layer  22  is substantially composed of silicon dioxide having doping of about 3% or more for boron by weight and about 3% or more for phosphorus by weight. 
     The next layer in the embodiment of multilayer structure  10  illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises an undoped silicon dioxide layer  30  having a base surface  13  and a mask surface  14 . Undoped silicon dioxide layer  30  can be any type of undoped oxide and be formed by a thermal process, by a plasma enhanced deposition process, by conventional TEOS precursor deposition that is preferably rich in carbon or hydrogen, or by a precursor of gaseous silane (SiH 4 ) with oxygen. In the latter process, the gaseous silane flow will result in undoped silicon dioxide layer  30 . 
     Undoped silicon dioxide layer  30  is processed to form a first selected pattern  15 . After the patterning process is conducted, undoped silicon dioxide layer  30  defines an exposed etch mask surface  16  positioned adjacent to first selected pattern  15  above base surface  13 . 
     The structure seen in FIG. 1 is now etched with a fluorinated or fluoro-carbon chemical etchant system to form second selected pattern  17  as indicated in phantom. The preferred manner is an anisotropic plasma etch of doped silicon dioxide layer  22  aligned with first selected pattern  15  down to the semiconductor substrate  12 . An anisotropic plasma etch will form second selected pattern  17  having a profile substantially corresponding to that of first selected pattern  15 . Moreover, first selected pattern  15  will be defined by a contact  19  situated on semiconductor substrate  12  and a wall  18  that is substantially orthogonal to semiconductor substrate  12 . Exposed etch mask surface  16  prevents the etchant system from removing material from doped silicon dioxide layer  22  except as aligned with first selected pattern  15 . Optionally, an etch stop layer (not shown) composed of substantially undoped silicon dioxide may be formed on semiconductor substrate  12 . 
     The plasma etch technique employed herein is preferably generated under a closed chamber within the confines of a discharging unit and involves any type of a plasma system, including a high density plasma etcher. A conventional radio frequency reactive ion etcher (RF RIE) plasma system, a magnetically enhanced RIE (MERIE) plasma system, or an inductively coupled plasma system could be used. The preferred embodiment, however, is an RF type RIE or MERIE plasma system. The plasma system that is used preferably has a plasma density in a range from about 10 9 /cm 3  to about 10 11 /cm 3 . A high density plasma system can also be used having a plasma density in a range from about 10 11 /cm 3  to about 10 13 /cm 3 . 
     Another embodiment of a multilayer structure  40  is seen in FIG.  2 . Like multilayer structure  10  of FIG. 1, multilayer structure  40  has a doped silicon dioxide layer  22  and an undoped silicon dioxide layer  30  supported by semiconductor substrate  12 . Additionally, this embodiment has two interleaving layers: a polysilicon layer  24  formed on doped silicon dioxide layer  22  and a refractory metal silicide layer  26  formed on the polysilicon layer  24 . A refractory metal for purposes of the invention described herein includes titanium, chromium, tantalum, platinum, tungsten and zirconium, and also includes molybdenum. Preferably, refractory metal silicide layer  26  is substantially composed of tungsten silicide. As can be seen in FIG. 2, doped silicon dioxide layer  22 , polysilicon layer  24 , and refractory metal silicide layer  26  form a substrate assembly over which undoped silicon dioxide layer  30  can be formed. 
     The multilayer structure consisting of polysilicon layer  24 , metal silicide layer  26  and undoped silicon dioxide  22  is processed to form first selected pattern  15  as described above in reference to FIG.  1 . After the patterning process is conducted, undoped silicon dioxide layer  30  defines an exposed etch mask surface  16  positioned adjacent to first selected pattern  15 . 
     The structure seen in FIG. 2 is next etched using an etching system as described above in reference to FIG. 1 to form second selected pattern  17  as indicated in phantom. The preferred manner is an anisotropic plasma etch of doped silicon dioxide layer  22  through first selected pattern  15  down to the semiconductor substrate  12 . Exposed etch mask surface  16  prevents the etchant system from removing material from doped silicon dioxide layer  22  except through first selected pattern  15 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of this invention, after second selected pattern  17  is formed in doped silicon dioxide layer  22 , a conductive material (not shown) is formed in second selected pattern  17  to form a contact plug (not shown) for contacting semiconductor substrate  12 . It may be desirable to line the contact hole of the contact plug with a refractory metal or a refractory metal silicide. As such, second selected pattern  17  would have proximate thereto a lining of a refractory metal or a silicide thereof prior to formation of the contact plug in contact with semiconductor substrate  12 . 
     Another embodiment of the inventive process is seen in FIG. 3. A multilayer structure  60  is formed in this embodiment. Multilayer structure  60  has a primary region indicated generally at  62  and a secondary region indicated generally at  64 . Multilayer structure  60  comprises a series of gate stacks  50  formed on a semiconductor substrate  12 . A doped silicon dioxide layer  22  is formed over the gate stacks  50  and supported by semiconductor substrate  12 . This embodiment also includes a polysilicon layer  24 , a refractory metal silicide layer  26 , and an undoped silicon dioxide layer  30 . 
     The upper multilayer structure consisting of the polysilicon layer  24 , metal silicide layer  26 , and the undoped silicon dioxide layer  30  is processed to form first selected pattern comprising a primary opening  28  located in primary region  62  and a secondary opening  29  located in secondary region  64 . The patterning process is conducted as described above in reference to FIG.  1 . 
     A photoresist material layer  32  is then formed on undoped silicon dioxide layer  30 , substantially filling secondary opening  29  and exposing primary opening  28 . The resist pattern is such that the alignment with primary opening  28  is not critical. Multilayer structure  60  is etched using any suitable etching system that is selective to both photoresist material layer  32  and to undoped silicon dioxide layer  30  but not selective to substantially doped silicon dioxide in doped silicon dioxide layer  22 . Substantially doped silicon dioxide is etched through the primary opening  28  of the first selected pattern. The preferred manner is an anisotropic etch of doped silicon dioxide layer  22  down past gate stacks  50  to semiconductor substrate  12  so as to create a primary etched pattern  34  indicated in phantom. In this etch, undoped silicon dioxide layer  30  acts as an etch mask in region  28 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a preferred embodiment of a gate stack, such as gate stacks  50  of FIG.  3 . Gate stack  50  has a gate oxide layer  42  supported by semiconductor substrate  12 . Gate oxide layer  42  may be relatively thin in comparison with other layers of gate stack  50 . The next layer comprises a polysilicon gate layer  44 . A refractory metal silicide layer  46  is formed on polysilicon gate layer  44 . A known benefit of refractory metal suicides is low resistivity. Preferably, refractory metal silicide layer  46  is substantially composed of tungsten silicide (WSi x ). 
     Overlying refractory metal silicide layer  46  is an undoped silicon dioxide layer  48  which can be formed thermally, by plasma enhanced deposition, by a conventional TEOS precursor deposition that is preferably rich in carbon or hydrogen, or by a precursor of gaseous silane (SiH 4 ) with oxygen. Undoped silicon dioxide layer  48  is commonly referred to as a cap, and defines a distal surface  51  in relation to the semiconductor substrate  12 . Additionally, a spacer  49  is formed on both a lateral side of each gate stack  50  such that each spacer  49  contacts gate oxide layer  42 , polysilicon gate layer  44 , refractory metal silicide layer  46 , and undoped silicon dioxide layer  48 . Preferably, spacer  49  is substantially composed of substantially undoped silicon dioxide. Alternatively, spacers  49  can be substantially composed of another suitable material, including silicon nitride. 
     FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment of a multilayer structure  70  formed by the inventive process. Multilayer structure  70  comprises a first series of substantially parallel gate stacks  50  indicated generally at  72  formed on semiconductor substrate  12 . A doped silicon dioxide layer  22  is positioned on first series  72  and is supported by the semiconductor substrate  12 . A second series of substantially parallel gate stacks  50  indicated generally at  74  is supported by doped silicon dioxide layer  22 . In FIG. 5, each gate stack  50  of first series  72  has a longitudinal axis extending into the page that defines a directional component of first series  72 . Likewise, each gate stack  50  of second series  74  has a longitudinal axis extending into the page that defines a directional component of second series  74 . In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the directional component of first series  72  is parallel to the directional component of second series  74 . Alternatively, first and second series  72 ,  74  may be aligned in some other manner, including but not limited to being positioned such that the respective directional components thereof are orthogonal with respect to each other. 
     Gate stacks  50  of second series  74  define a first selected pattern  66  having a series of elongated openings between gate stacks  50  of second series  74 . Multilayer structure  70  is next etched using an etching system as described above in reference to FIG. 1 to form a second selected pattern  68  as indicated in phantom. The preferred manner is an anisotropic plasma etch of doped silicon dioxide layer  22  through first selected pattern  66  down to the semiconductor substrate  12 . Undoped silicon dioxide layer  48  on each gate stacks  50  of second series  74  acts as an etch mask, thereby preventing the etchant system from removing material from doped silicon dioxide layer  22  except as aligned with first selected pattern  66 . If spacers  49  of second series  74  are substantially composed of substantially undoped silicon dioxide, they will act as an etch mask. Preferably, undoped silicon dioxide layer  48  and spacers  49  of the first series  72  act as an etch stop surface, thereby preventing the etching system from substantially removing material from first series  72 . Alternatively, the silicon dioxide of spacers  49  in gate stacks  50  of first series  72  can be composed of some other suitable material, such as silicon nitride. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a partial perspective view of an inventive multilayer structure  80  formed by practicing the inventive process. Multilayer structure  80  is similar to multilayer structure  70  of FIG. 5 other than the variation in the directional components of first series  72  and second series  74 . In multilayer structure  80 , the directional component of second series  74  is orthogonal to the directional component of first series  72 . multilayer structure  80 . Second series  74  is supported by first series  72 . Additionally, a residual doped silicon dioxide material  69  is seen in locations where doped silicon dioxide layer  22  was not etched. 
     FIG. 7 illustrates a top view of FIG.  6  and shows the configuration and elongated openings of first selected pattern  66 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, first series  72  function as word lines and second series  74  function as bit lines. 
     Regarding the etching system used according to this invention, one factor that effects the etch rate and the etch selectivity of the process is pressure. The total pressure has a preferred range from about 1 millitorr to about 400 millitorr. A more preferred pressure range for a plasma etch is in a pressure range from about 1 millitorr to about 100 millitorr. The most preferred pressure range for a plasma etch is from about 1 millitorr to about 75 millitorr. The pressure may be increased, however, above the most preferred ranges. For example, the RIE etch may be performed at about 100 millitorr. Selectivity can be optimized at a pressure range between about 10 millitorr and about 75 millitorr. Pressure increases may result in a loss in selectivity. The range in selectivity, however, can be adjusted to accommodate different pressures. As such, selectivity and pressure are inversely related. 
     Temperature is another factor that effects the selectivity of the etching process used. A preferable temperature range of the reactor cathode during the plasma etch has a range of about 10° C. to about 80° C., and more preferably about 20° C. to about 40° C. This is the temperature of a bottom electrode adjacent to semiconductor substrate  12  during the etching process. The preferable range of the semiconductor materials is between about 40° C. and about 130° C., and more preferably between about 40° C. and about 90° C. 
     Undoped silicon dioxide layer  30  seen in FIGS. 2 and 3 protects underlying substantially doped silicon dioxide from the fluorinated chemical etch. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the etch will anisotropically remove a portion of doped silicon dioxide layer  22  that is aligned with first selected pattern  15  as indicated by second selected pattern  17 . The etch removes material from doped silicon dioxide layer  22  at a higher material removal rate than that of undoped silicon dioxide layer  30 . Preferably, the etch has a material removal rate for substantially doped silicon dioxide that is at least 10 times higher than that of substantially undoped silicon dioxide. 
     Preferably, etching as conducted according to this invention involves an anisotropic plasma etch with a fluorinated chemistry that etches through BSG, PSG, BPSG, or doped silicon dioxide in general. The etch is preferably selective to undoped silicon dioxide, silicon, and silicon nitride. The fluorinated chemical etch utilizes a type of carbon fluorine gas that is preferably selected from the group of C 2 F 6 , CF 4 , C 3 F 8 , C 4 F 10 , C 2 F 8 , CH 2 F 2 , CHF 3 , C 2 HF 5 , CH 3 F and combinations thereof. There are other fluorinated enchants in a substantially gas phase that can be employed during the etching of the structure. An inert gas is often used in combination with the fluorinated etchant. Argon, nitrogen, and helium are examples of such an inert gas. The preferred gasses, however, are CF 4 , CH 2 F 2 , CHF 3  and Ar. Alternatively CH 3 F may be used in place of CH 2 F 2 . In particular, the preferred enchant is a fluorine deficient gas which is defined as a gas where there are not enough fluorine atoms to saturate the bonding for the carbon atoms. 
     The present invention has application to a wide variety of structures. Undoped silicon dioxide layers can be used to create and protect various types of structures during the doped silicon dioxide etching process for structures other than those specifically described herein. 
     The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.