Patent ID: 8759227

Claim:
A method of processing a target object in a processing chamber having therein a first electrode and a second electrode disposed in parallel to each other, the target object including an etching target layer, an organic film formed on the etching target layer, and a patterned photoresist layer formed on the organic film, the method comprising the sequential steps of: placing the target object on the second electrode; etching the organic film by a plasma of a first processing gas containing H 2 by using the photoresist layer as a mask while applying a first negative DC voltage to the first electrode to harden the photoresist layer while etching the organic film; hardening the photoresist layer by using a plasma of a second processing gas containing H 2 , C, F and Ar while applying a second negative DC voltage to the first electrode, wherein the second negative DC voltage is greater in magnitude than the first negative DC voltage; and etching the etching target layer by using the photoresist layer as a mask.