Patent ID: 7560369

Claim:
A method of forming metal lines in a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: forming a first metal line on a semiconductor substrate; forming an insulation layer on the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate including the first metal line; exposing a part of the surface of the first metal line by selectively removing the insulation layer, thereby forming a via hole; wetting the semiconductor substrate with deionized water after forming the via hole; removing etching residues by performing a wet cleaning process with a neutral electrolyte solution over the semiconductor substrate after wetting the semiconductor substrate with deionized water, while rotating the semiconductor substrate at a rate of greater than 0 to 50 rpm; performing a dry cleaning process by spraying or directing a stream of gas comprising nitrogen onto the semiconductor substrate after the wet cleaning step; and forming a second metal line that is electrically connected with the first metal line through the via hole.