Patent ID: 8106485

Claim:
A semiconductor device comprising: a plasma etched damascene structure comprising a trench having sidewalls formed in an interlevel dielectric film; a barrier layer comprising Si 3 N 4 formed on a silicon wafer; and a photoresist layer formed on the interlevel dielectric film; wherein the sidewalls are devoid of plasma-induced damage, the interlevel dielectric film is formed on the barrier layer, and the sidewalls are recessed from the photoresist by an amount equal to a trimming dimension associated with a removed damaged portion, whereby damage to the sidewalls of the plasma etched damascene structure is removed by: depositing a controlled amount of gaseous hydrofluoric acid and ammonia gas onto the sidewalls of the dual damascene structure; forming volatile reaction products from a chemical reaction between the plasma induced damages and the deposited mixture of ammonia gas and gaseous hydrofluoric acid; and removing the volatile reaction products.