Patent ID: 7402527

Claim:
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device by using a dry etching apparatus having a dual power source capable of independently controlling source power for generating a plasma in a chamber and bias power for drawing ions from the plasma into an object to be etched in the chamber, the method comprising the steps of: performing etching with respect to the member by placing a substrate having a member containing at least silicon exposed thereat in the chamber, introducing a first process gas into the chamber, generating a first plasma of the first process gas with application of the source power, and drawing ions from the first plasma into the member with application of the bias power; exhausting the first process gas from the chamber after the step of performing etching with respect to the member and then introducing a second process gas containing at least oxygen into the chamber, while leaving the substrate in the chamber; oxidizing a damaged layer formed in the member in the step of performing etching with respect to the member by generating a second plasma of the second process gas by applying the source power without applying the bias power, wherein the damaged layer is oxidized by the second plasma; and removing the oxidized damaged layer by retrieving the substrate from the chamber and cleaning the substrate; wherein the member is a conductive film formed on the substrate and containing at least silicon, the step of performing etching with respect to the member includes the step of forming a gate electrode composed of the conductive film on the substrate, and the step of oxidizing the damaged layer includes the step of oxidizing the damaged layer formed in a side surface of the gate electrode.