Patent ID: 8435901

Claim:
A method of patterning an insulation layer, comprising: preparing a film stack on a substrate, said film stack comprising a cap layer, a SiCOH-containing layer overlying said cap layer, and a hard mask overlying said SiCOH-containing layer; and transferring a pattern through said film stack by performing a series of etch processes in a plasma etching system, wherein said series of etch processes utilize a temperature controlled substrate holder in said plasma etching system according to a substrate temperature control scheme that achieves etch selectivity between said SiCOH-containing layer and said underlying cap layer, said substrate temperature control scheme including: controlling a first substrate temperature in a first etch process for transferring said pattern through said hard mask and optionally for partially transferring said pattern to said SiCOH-containing layer, controlling a second substrate temperature at a temperature greater than said first substrate temperature in a second etch process for transferring said pattern through said SiCOH-containing layer, and controlling a third substrate temperature at a temperature less than said second substrate temperature in a third etch process for transferring said pattern through said cap layer, wherein said hard mask comprises at least one layer containing Si and O, or at least one layer containing a metal.