Patent ID: 7498271

Claim:
A method of processing a high-k dielectric material comprising: providing a substrate including a first conductivity region and a second conductivity region, wherein a high-k dielectric material is present atop the first conductivity region and the second conductivity region; applying a photoresist layer atop the first conductivity region and the second conductivity region; removing a first portion of the photoresist layer and the high-k dielectric material to expose one of the first conductivity region and the second conductivity region, wherein a remaining portion of the photoresist layer remains overlying an other of the first conductivity region and the second conductivity region; and applying a nitrogen based plasma to the substrate, wherein the nitrogen based plasma produces a nitrogen containing layer on one of the first conductivity region and the second conductivity region, and the nitrogen based plasma removes the remaining portion of the photoresist layer on the other of the first conductivity region and the second conductivity region, wherein the nitrogen based plasma produces substantially no carbon residue and no interfacial growth.