Patent ID: 6852636

Claim:
A method for etching at least partially through a metal-containing layer disposed above a substrate, wherein part of said metal-containing layer is disposed below an etch mask and part of said metal-containing layer is not disposed below the etch mask, comprising the steps of: placing the substrate in an etch chamber; flowing an etchant gas into the etch chamber; creating a plasma from the etchant gas in the etch chamber; etching away parts of the metal-containing layer not disposed below the etch mask, wherein some of the etched away parts of the metal-containing layer is redeposited to form residual sidewall passivation while the substrate is in the etch chamber; discontinuing the flow of the etchant gas into the etch chamber; flowing an etch mask stripping gas into the etch chamber; creating a plasma from the etch mask stripping gas in the etch chamber; stripping away the etch mask and removing some residual sidewall passivation, while the substrate is in the etch chamber; and removing the substrate from the etch chamber.